

CLASS OF ALUMNI 






































CLASS OF ALUMNI 


OF 


DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 


1813 : 


WITH 


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE MEMBERS. 


FOE PRIVATE USE. 

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“ And stiU I seem to tread on classic ground.”— Addison. 

“ Socius atque comes, turn honoris, turn etiam calamitatis.” —Cicero. 



BOSTON: 

PRESS OF T. R. MARVIN, 42 CONGRESS STREET. 

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NAMES OP THE GRADUATES 


The Class that graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1813, with others(*) 
who left for various reasons, numbered sixty when their Sophomore Cata¬ 
logue was issued in October of 1810. They were subsequently increased 
by several more. So enlarged, they were but forty-one when they received 
their first degree. Of these, only nineteen survive after the lapse of nearly 
forty-one years. Thus more than one-half of them have finished their 
probation, and now sleep bodily with the dead. This is an emphatic admo¬ 
nition for the rest to gird up their loins, and faithfully do the work divinely 
and righteously required of them. 

JAMES ADAMS, Boscawen, N. H. 

DANIEL AUSTIN, Portsmouth, N. H. 

RUFUS W. BAILEY, Yarmouth, Me. 

HENRY BOND, Livermore, Me. 

JAMES BURNSIDE, Northumberland, N. H. 

ABIEL CARTER, Concord, N. H. 

JAMES CHUTE, Rowley, Mass. 

AUGUSTUS COOLEDGE, Boxborough, Mass. 

DANIEL “CRAM, Francestown, N. H. 

FREDERIC CUSHING, Berwick, Me. 

AUSTIN DICKINSON, Amherst, Mass. 

JAMES DINSMORE, Londonderry, N. H. 

THOMAS M. EDWARDS, Keene, N. H. 

DANIEL ELLIOT, Dublin, N. H. 

EBENEZER EVERETT, Francestown, N. H. 

BENJAMIN F. FARNSWORTH, Berwick, Me. 

SAMUEL FARNSWORTH, Berwick, Me. 

JOSEPH B. FELT, Salem, Mass. 

CHARLES FOX, Roxbury, Mass. 

AUGUSTUS GREELE, Wilton, N. H. 

BENJAMIN GREENLEAF, Haverhill, Mass. 

HUTCHINS HAPGOOD, Petersham, Mass. 

LEVI HARTSHORN, Amherst, N. H. 

CHARLES JOHNSTON, Haverhill, H. N. 



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EBENEZER S. KELLY, New Hampton, N. H. 

JONATHAN KITTREDGE, Canterbury, N. H. 

ALLEN LATHAM, Lyme, N. H. 

BENJAMIN G. LEONARD, Niagara, N. Y. 

ALEXANDER LOVELL, West Boylston, Mass. 

CHARLES MARSH, Woodstock, Vt. 

JOHN NICHOLS, Antrim, N. H. 

TIMOTHY PARKHURST, Wilton, N. H. 

ELISHA B. PERKINS, Pomfret, Conn. 

PETER ROBINSON, Pembroke, N. H. 

DAVID SMITH, Francestown, N. H. 

EXPERIENCE P. STORRS, Lebanon, N. H. 

JOSEPH WARDWELL, Salisbury, N. H. 

SAMUEL WELLS, Greenfield, Mass. 

WILLIAM WHITE, Thetford, Vt. 

FREDERICK WOOD, Littleton, Mass. 

CHARLES WOODMAN, Sanbornton, N. H. 

(*) Jacob Atkinson, Boscawen, N. H.; Francis Cogswell, Do¬ 
ver, N. H.; George Dunbar, Keene, N. H.; Jacob W. Eastman, 
Sandwich, N. H.; Daniel A. Ford, Abington, Mass.; John E. 
Fuller, Francestown, N. H., died ; Nathaniel Henchman, Am¬ 
herst, N. H.; Charles Herbert, Rumney, N. H.; John Hubbard, 
Hanover, N. H.; Josiah Hubbard, Hanover, N. H.; Stephen Lyford, 
Brookfield, Mass.; Jonathan Mason, Lyme, N. H.; James Milti- 
more, Newbury, Mass.; Matthew Patrick, Windsor, Vt.; Samuel 
Philbrick, Washington, N. H.; Henry S. Safford, Salem, Mass.; 
Alpha Shaw, Unity, N. H.; Ebenezer Shaw, New Salem, Mass.; 
Charles J. F. Sherburne, Portsmouth, N. H.; Jonathan Silsby, 
Ac worth, N. H.; Mason S. Smith, Hanover, N. H., died; Nathan¬ 
iel West, Hanover, N. H.; John White, Concord, N. H. Of 
these, Dunbar, Ford, Henchman and Mason had left the class when 
the Catalogue was issued. 


MINUTES OF THE CLASS MEETING. 


At a meeting of the Class of 1S13, in Dartmouth College, 
holden at Hanover, N. H., July 26, A. D. 1853,—present: Dr. 
Henry Bond, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Gen. James Dinsmore, of 
Walnut Hills, Ky.; Thomas M. Edwards, Esq., of Keene, N. H.; 
Daniel Elliot, Esq., of Marlborough, N. Y.; Rev. Joseph B. Felt, 
of Boston, Mass.; Charles Fox, Esq., of Boston, Mass.; Benjamin 
Greenleaf, Esq., of Bradford, Mass.; Jonathan Kittredge, Esq., of 
Canaan, N. H.; Allen Latham, Esq., of Chilicothe, Ohio; Rev. 
Alexander Lovell, of Nashua, N. PI.; Dr. Timothy Parkhurst, of 
Wilton, N. H.; Elisha B. Perkins, Esq., of Marietta, Ohio; and 
Samuel Wells, Esq., of Northampton, Mass. 

Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., was chosen Chairman, and Samuel 
Wells, Esq., Secretary. 

Voted, That Messrs. Greenleaf, Felt, and Wells, be a Committee, to 
prepare and publish a short biographical sketch of each member of the 
Class, who graduated. 

Voted, That Messrs. Elliot, Bond, and Edwards, be a Committee of 
Arrangements for the Class, at the present Commencement. 

Voted, That the Secretary of this meeting be the Secretary of the 
Class ; and that in case of his death, or inability to perform the duties 
of that office, the same shall devolve upon the then youngest member 
of the Class, successively; who shall take possession and have the 
care and custody, of all such records, documents, correspondence, and 
moneys of the Class, as shall be found in the possession of his prede¬ 
cessor in office, for the use and benefit of the Class ; and that the last 
surviving Secretary cause the same to be deposited in the archives of 
the College. 

Voted, That each member of the Class shall, on the first day of Jan¬ 
uary, A. D. 1855, and annually thereafterwards, address a letter to the 
Chairman and another to the Secretary, stating such facts in relation to 
his personal history or that of his family, as would be generally inter¬ 
esting to his Classmates ; and that the Secretary cause a summary of 
the same to be prepared, and transmitted to each member. 



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Voted, That if any member shall change his place of residence, he 
shall immediately communicate to the Secretary, the place of his new 
residence and post office address. 

Voted, That the Secretary for the time being, be the Treasurer of 
the Class ; and that he render his account of moneys received and paid, 
to the Chairman, on the first day of January annually. 

A contribution was then taken up, to defray the expenses of 
publication, and other expenses of this Association ; and the sum 
of one hundred and forty seven dollars was contributed. Some 
unknown member having contributed the sum of one hundred 
dollars, and being called upon to rectify his mistake, if any had 
been made, and no one making answer thereto, the same was 
considered as generously contributed for the benefit of the class, 
and it was thereupon 

Voted, That the thanks of the Class be presented to the generous 
donor of one hundred dollars, and that the Chairman be requested so 
to dispose of the same, for the benefit of such members of the Class, or 
their children, as shall, in his best judgment, be most necessitous and 
deserving. 

Voted, That the proceedings of this meeting be published, and 
transmitted by the Secretary to each member of the Class. 

During the meeting many incidents of personal history, both 
of present and absent members of the Class, were related, inter¬ 
mingled with religious remarks and devotions. Some whose 
residences were unknown were sought out. Letters from Class¬ 
mates unavoidably absent, were read, making the whole a season 
of rich enjoyment to every one present. On the 27th, the Class 
called in a body upon President Lord, also upon Professor 
Shurtleff, the latter being the only member of the Board of Trus¬ 
tees or Faculty of the College, holding office therein, in A. D. 
1813. They also visited the cemetery where were found the 
graves of their honored instructors, Wheelock, Hubbard, and 
Adams. 

The Class then voted to adjourn to meet at Hanover with their 
wives, so far as surviving and blessed with ability, on the Tues¬ 
day preceding the annual Commencement of Dartmouth College 
in A. D. 1863, at ten o’clock A. M., at such place as shall be 
provided by the committee of arrangements. 

Attest. Samuel Wells, Secretary. 


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 


JAMES ADAMS. 

James Adams was born at Londonderry, New Hampshire, 
Nov 7,1785. His father, the Hon. William Adams, was born 
there, Feb. 6,1755, whose father was among the earlier settlers 
of the same place. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, 
was also engaged in the battle of Bennington, and he died in 
October, 1828. James was a young man of great promise. 
Possessing an ardent thirst for knowledge, he entered upon 
a course of education, and graduated with the reputation of a 
studious and successful scholar. On leaving college, he took 
charge of the Academy of Hampton, New Hampshire. He 
there commenced the study of theology, with Kev. Mr. Web¬ 
ster, then minister of that town. He felt a strong desire to 
engage in the work of the ministry, had nearly completed 
his course of preparation, and the time was fixed for his 
examination and licensure. But he was attacked with sick¬ 
ness, which terminated in consumption, and closed his life, 
April 15, 1817, and his promised usefulness in the church 
below. 


DANIEL AUSTIN. 

Daniel Austin was the son of Daniel and Mary Austin. 
His father was a merchant of Boston, Massachusetts, till 
1800, when he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 




8 


where he died December, 1818, aged 65. His mother 
deceased a few years since, at the advanced age of 87. Mr. 
Austin had his birth in Boston, November 21, 1793, and was 
the only son of a large family of children. 

He prepared for college under Deacon Amos Tappan, and 
entered as sophomore. After graduating, he followed the 
bent of his distinguished classical taste, and attended to gen¬ 
eral literature. For a profession, he studied law with Jere¬ 
miah Mason, then of Portsmouth. But, when having pro¬ 
gressed in it for a year and a half, a change took place in the 
fortune of his father, which led him to relinquish the pursuit. 
In the mean while, he declined the overture to become a 
Major, as aid to General Storer, and he delivered the Repub¬ 
lican oration, of July 4, 1814. Though brought up to lean 
on parental aid, when this failed him, he sunk not in despon¬ 
dency, but nobly stood in his lot, and depended on personal 
efforts. He resorted to the useful and honorable employ¬ 
ment of instructing youth. 

After spending several years in this occupation, he turned 
his attention to theological studies. He entered Divinity Hall 
at Cambridge, and graduated in 1827. Being licensed this 
year to preach, and having had several calls to settle, he 
became minister of the First Parish of Brighton, June 4, 1828, 
as successor to the Rev. John Foster, D. D. He was per¬ 
suaded by the inhabitants of the town, to serve for their Rep¬ 
resentative in the Legislature of 1832 and 1833, and then he 
declined a re-election. He continued his pastoral relation, 
with the large increase of his church, to November, 1837, 
when he resigned it, to the “regret and sorrow” of his 
people. 

As to his domestic relations, he married Hannah, the eldest 
daughter of Benjamin Joy, Esq., of Boston, November 21, 
1833. In referring to his connection, he remarked, “ I have 
had nine children, five girls and four boys, none of whom, 
alas! are living.” 

Having left Brighton and moved to Boston, in the spring 


9 


of 1838, he was “ reader and assistant, from one to two years, 
to his friend Dr. F. W. P. Greenwood, at the King’s Chapel.” 
“ About this time he declined the Masonic appointment of 
Grand Chaplain of Massachusetts.” He removed to Cam¬ 
bridge in the spring of 1842 ; was one of the first School 
Committee under the city charter, and chairman, about the 
same time, of the Commitee of the First Parish. He was 
unanimously chosen Deacon of its Church, but declined ; 
was two or three years successively Chairman of the Lyceum 
Board, and for several years Superintendent of the Sunday 
School. 

In the first part of Mr. Green’s mayoralty, Mr. Austin, out 
of regal'd for Washington, had placed around the tree, which 
bears the name of this distinguished man, and under which he 
stood on Cambridge Common, a substantial iron fence at his 
own charge. 

Mr. Austin assisted the Professor of Pulpit Eloquence for 
a year or more, instructing the classes in elocution. He also 
founded and endowed a course of five Lectures relating to the 
Evidences of Christianity, which were delivered the same 
year by students of the Institution selected by the Faculty, 
and was discontinued only through fear of exciting a spirit of 
rivalry. He removed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 
April or May, 1850, purchased f Sherburne Place,’ and, in 
Kittery, Maine, a sea-side residence called f Willow Bank; ’ 
between which locations he divides his time. 

One of his friends, who has known him many years, has 
said —“ He always reminds me of Lord Glenthorn in Miss 
Edgeworth’s f Ennui,’ though I think he has never, like him, 
made the most of his abilities; having ever been fond of quiet 
observation and retirement, and too great an admirer of the 
character of the Roman Atticus to make the requisite exertion. 
He is social, reverential, tasteful and public spirited. His 
prime characteristic, perhaps, is his benevolence. He has 
been the main support of eight or ten of his nearest relatives 


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for the last forty years ; is generally respected, and is always 
referred to as a good son and brother.” 


RUFUS WILLIAM BAILEY. 

Rufus William Bailey was born in Yarmouth, Maine, 
April 13, 1793. His father, Lebbeus Bailey, was the son of 
Col. John Bailey, who commanded a regiment of Massachu¬ 
setts “minute men” in the continental establishment through 
the revolutionary war. His ancestors emigrated from Eng¬ 
land, and settled in Plymouth county early after the first land¬ 
ing on Plymouth Rock. The graves of six generations 1 are 
of record in the towns of Scituate and Hanover. Lebbeus, 
the youngest of four sons, moved to Yarmouth, Maine, soon 
after his early marriage, and died there in 1827, at the age 
of 63. He married Sarah Sylvester Myrick, of Nantucket, 
whose father commanded a whale-ship, and was killed, 
,when a young man, in conflict with a whale in the Pacific 
ocean. She is still living in Portland, Maine, at the age of 
86. Rufus W., the second of six sons, was fitted for college 
partly at Hebron Academy, and partly by Rev. Dr. Francis 
Brown, afterwards President of Dartmouth College. He be¬ 
came a member of the junior class in 1811. After his gradu¬ 
ation, he entered the office of Daniel Webster as a student of 
law, but before commencing the practice of it, he changed his 
purpose, and repaired to Andover Theological Seminary as a 
student of divinity. Before finishing his course of study at the 
Seminary, he was appointed Tutor in Dartmouth College, and 
at the end of one year, in 1818, was ordained pastor of the Con¬ 
gregational Church on Norwich Plain, and at the same time 
was Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Military Academy 
there. In 1823, he succeeded Rev. Dr. Humphrey as pastor 
of the Congregational Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. 


1 See Barry’s Genealogies. 





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In 1827, his health compelled him to relinquish his pastoral 
charge and seek a southern climate. 

He has always been connected with, the cause of education. 
Immediately after his graduation, he took charge of Salisbury 
Academy, in Ne\v Hampshire, and subsequently of the Blue- 
hill Academy, in Maine. While he resided in Vermont, he 
was a Trustee of the University, and had the Presidency of that 
Institution tendered to him in 1821. Subsequently he was 
invited to preside over two other Colleges. While in Massa¬ 
chusetts, he was a Trustee of Williams College. He origi¬ 
nated and led in the organization of the “ Pittsfield Female 
Academy,” in 1825, and on his removal to the South, he 
established in South Carolina, the “ Richland School,” on the 
plan of the “ Round Hill School ” of Northampton. This 
school enjoyed, for several years, a wide patronage ; but, like 
its prototype, finally proved a failure. He subsequently taught 
a Female School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1840, 
he commenced the publication of a monthly Periodical, called 
“The Patriarch,” issued simultaneously in New York and 
Washington ; the first publication of this class designed to 
furnish to the parlor and to the family an attractive and 
religious literature. Before the expiration of the second year, 
having attained an extensive circulation, the Patriarch passed 
out of his hands and was merged in the “Mother’s Magazine.” 
In 1842, he founded the “Augusta Female Seminary,” in 
Staunton, Virginia, and continued to preside over that flour¬ 
ishing Institution until his failing health required him to 
relinquish his labors in 1848. He then spent several years 
as Agent of the American Colonization Society in Virginia. 

He is now engaged in literary pursuits. He has published 
a volume of sermons entitled “The Family Preacher,” and 
various single sermons preached on various occasions ; a vol¬ 
ume of Letters to Daughters, called “ The Mother’s Request 
a volume of Letters on Slavery, called “ The Issue ”; besides 
many fugitive pieces in newspapers and in periodicals, some 
anonymous and some under his own signature ; “ A Manual 


12 


of Grammar ” of the English Language, with a discussion on 
Idiom; and a “ Primary Grammar ” for beginners. He took 
his Master’s Degree in 1816, and was returned as the Phi 
Beta Kappa orator in 1821, incorrectly recorded in the Cata¬ 
logue Kiah Bailey. 

He has been twice married. In 1820, to Lucy, daughter 
of Hon. Beuben Hatch, of Norwich, Vermont. She died in 
Camden, South Carolina, in 1832, leaving three children : 
Mary, married to John F. Hives, a planter of Mississippi; 
Harriet, married to Professor Campbell, Washington College, 
Virginia; and Francis Brown, settled in Indiana. He was 
married again in 1842, to Mrs. Mariette Lloyd, daughter of 
Dr. Perry, of Waterbury, Connecticut. She died in 1853, 
leaving one daughter, Lucy, who was born in 1844. 

In the close of a letter, written to the committee of publi¬ 
cation, Mr. Bailey remarks, te I have been greatly afflicted and 
greatly blest, and in all the dealings of Providence, have seen 
the hand of a ‘ Father ever kind and gracious.’ ” 


HENBY BOND. 

Henry Bond was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, 
March 21, 1790, and was the only son of Henry Bond, who 
married Hannah, eldest daughter of Captain Phineas and 
Hannah (Bemis) Stearns, of Watertown. His grandfather. 
Colonel William Bond, of Watertown, commanded the 25th 
Begiment of the Continental Army, and died and was buried 
on Mount Independence, September 1, 1776. 

In the summer of 1790, his father moved from Watertown 
to Livermore, Maine, then just begun to be settled, where he 
had previously purchased land and become joint proprietor 
of the first grist and saw mills erected in the township. His 
father died in March, 1796, aged 34, leaving a widow and 
two children; and his mother died in August, 1803, aged 35. 



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In March, 1806, lie commenced his academical course at 
Hebron Academy, at that time and for a little while after¬ 
wards under the care of Mr. Albion K. Parris, who has 
since filled many high offices ; then for a few months, under 
Mr. William Weeks, and next under Mr. William Barrows, 
who filled the office of Preceptor for a few years very accept¬ 
ably. In September, 1809, he was admitted to the fresh¬ 
man class of Dartmouth College, where he spent the full 
term of an undergraduate. 

According to the very common usage among collegians, at 
that period, most of his winter vacations, both before and 
after entering College, were employed in teaching school. 

Immediately after graduation, he commenced the study of 
medicine with Dr. Cyrus Perkins, at that time Professor of 
Anatomy in the College, and not long afterwards, upon the 
resignation of Dr. Nathan Smith, Professor of Surgery. 
With little interruption, he devoted his time to professional 
studies until the first of March, 1815. Having been elected 
Tutor of the College, he entered upon the duties of the office 
at the beginning of the spring term of this year, and con¬ 
tinued therein until August, 1816. The period during 
which he held office in the College, was particularly inter¬ 
esting and exciting, as it was in the midst of those 
“ Dartmouth College difficulties,” which have become so 
noted by the important judicial trials that resulted from 
them. 

While in the office of Tutor, he prosecuted his professional 
studies as closely as his other duties would permit, and, after 
his resignation, gave his exclusive attention to them until the 
close of the medical term in December, 1816, when he passed 
an examination for a medical degree. Immediately after this 
he went to Concord, New Hampshire, and early in January, 
1817, offered to the public his professional services. 

In each of the three summers he resided in Concord, Dr. 
Bond delivered a course of popular Lectures on Chemistry, 
and in 1818, he delivered the Oration before the New Hamp- 


14 


shire Alpha of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In the spring 
of 1819, as early as the laws of the Society would permit, he 
was elected a Fellow of the New Hampshire Medical Society, 
and at the same time a Censor, and the Orator for the next 
anniversary. In 1819, he was the originator and chief agent 
in the establishment of a Beading Boom, or Atheneum, in 
Concord, which began with fair prospects, but which after a 
while dwindled away to extinction. 

Early in November, 1819, he left Concord for Philadel¬ 
phia, where he has since resided, unmarried. In March, 
1820, after spending the winter in attending the medical 
lectures in the University and the clinical instruction in the 
Pennsylvania Hospital, he opened an office at 120 Arch 
street, in a house where Dr. Dorsey had resided, and where 
he had erected a small anatomical theatre, for his own use 
and that of his private pupils. For the first three years 
after settling there, Dr. Bond occupied that edifice, and 
usually had classes in general, and in practical and surgical 
anatomy, as large as could be accommodated. After the ter¬ 
mination of his third course, the edifice was not allowed to 
be used any more for its original purpose. 

In December, 1819, he was elected an Honorary Member 
of the Philadelphia Medical Society, and he was an active 
member of it until it ceased to meet. He was for ten year's 
its Treasurer, and afterwards its Vice President. In 1823, a 
medical association, called the Kappa Lambda Society, was 
organized in Philadelphia, having sister societies in several 
other States. Its object was medical improvement, having a 
special reference to Medical Ethics. Of this Society heVas 
an early member, and for some time its Secretary. In 1825, 
he was elected a Fellow of the Philadelphia College of 
Physicians, and in 1833, was elected its Secretary, which 
office he held until 1844, when its labors and his ill health 
compelled him to resign; since which time he has been one of 
the Censors. He was one of the delegates of this College in 
1840, and again in 1850, to the Decennial National Conven- 


15 


tions held in Washington city for revising the United States 
Pharmacopoeia. He was a member of the first National 
Medical Convention, convened in New York in May, 1846, 
for the purpose of organizing a National Medical Association, 
and has been a delegate to most of the subsequent meetings. 
He was a member of the Convention held hi Lancaster in 
April, 1847, for the purpose of organizing a State ‘Medical 
Society of Pennsylvania, and was one of the Committee for 
drafting the Constitution. He was also an original member 
of the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He is a mem¬ 
ber of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, of the 
Pennsylvania Historical Society, and of several religious and 
charitable associations. He was formerly, for several years, a 
member of the Philadelphia Board of Health, and most of 
the time its President. He is a Corresponding Member of 
the National Institute, of the American Statistical Association, 
of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, and of the 
Massachusetts Historical Society. Ill health, for the last few 
years, has compelled him to lessen very much his devotion to 
his profession, and some of his leisure has been devoted to 
antiquarian and genealogical researches, the results of which 
will probably be published. 

Besides the papers on professional subjects, hereafter enu¬ 
merated, he has read others before the College of Physicians 
and other medical bodies, which have not been printed, 
including two Biographical Notices of deceased members of 
the College. In 1824, he delivered the annual address 
before the New England Society of Philadelphia, which was 
printed. 

1. “ On the effects of atmospheric air, when applied to 
those parts of the body, not designed by nature to be in con¬ 
tact with it; ” read before the Academy of Medicine in 1821, 
and published in vol. ii., of the Phil. Journal of Med. and 
Phys. Science. 

2. “ A case of swelled leg .(phlegmasia dolens) occurring 
in a male,” published in the same volume. 


16 


3. ff On the production of animal heat; ” read before the 
Phil. Med. Society in 1825, and published in vol. x., of the 
same Journal. 

4. “ A case of ostea-sarcoma, in the pelvis; ” pubhshed in 

1827, in volume iv., of the North American Med. and Surg. 
J ournal. 

5. “ A case of diseased brain, of much interest in ref¬ 
erence to its functions; ” published in 1828, in the same 
Journal, vol. v. 

6. “ Observations on the removal of foreign bodies from 
the oesophagus,” with new instruments for the treatment of 
those accidents ; read before the College of Physicians in 

1828, and pubhshed with a plate, in vol. vi., of the same 
Journal. 

7. “ Observations on the treatment of fractures of the 
patella, with an attempt at its improvement; ” read before 
the Kappa Lambda Society, and published in vol. vii., of the 
same Journal. 

8. In vol. xi., of the same Journal, a Review of Recamier 
on Cancer. 

9. “ Note of the post mortem examination of a female who 
committed suicide almost immediately post coit.; ” pubhshed 
in vol. xiii., of the American Journal of Med. Science. 

10. “ On the extraction of retained placenta in cases of 
abortion; ” pubhshed in the Am. Jour, of Med. Science, for 
April, 1844, with a description and illustration of a new 
placental forceps. 

11. “ A case of rupture of the uterus; ” read before the 
College of Physicians, and pubhshed in the same Journal for 
January, 1845. 

12. “ Cases of retroversion of the uterus, with a descrip¬ 
tion of a new instrument for its restoration, and some obser¬ 
vations on the displacement of that organ ; ” read before the 
College of Physicians in March, 1849, and pubhshed in the 
same Journal for March, 1849, with illustrations. 

13. “ Remarks on obstetrical forceps, with an attempt at 


17 

their improvement; ” published in the same Journal for July, 
1850, with illustrations. 

14. “ Description of a vectis for the removal of a globular 
pessary,” with case and illustration; pubhshed in the same 
volume. 

15. “ On fractures of the lower end of the radius, pro¬ 
posing a new apparatus for their treatment; ” read before 
the College of Physicians in 1851, published in their Trans¬ 
actions, in the Medical Examiner and other journals, with 
illustrations. 

An evident rule of Dr. Bond’s life has been, to enlighten 
and benefit his fellow-beings. Better thus to do, than com¬ 
mand worlds for the conquests of ambition. 


JAMES BURNSIDE. 

His parents were James and Mary (Nutter) Burnside. 
His father was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and 
died March 15, 1809, in his forty-seventh year. His mother 
was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and died May 18, 
1820, in her fifty-sixth year. He had his birth at Northum¬ 
berland, of the same State, October 27, 1793. He fitted for 
College at Haverhill. After graduating, he taught an Acad¬ 
emy with success, and studied law in Onondaga, New York. 
His health was far from being robust. He soon showed 
symptoms of consumption, and died of this disease, at Utica, 
September, 1814. He had scarcely put in the sickle to reap 
benefit from his previous labors, ere he was summoned from 
the field of probation. 


ABIEL CARTER. 

His parents were Jacob and Sarah (Eastman) Carter. His 
father died at Concord, New Hampshire, January, 1805, aged 
3 




18 


50, and his mother at Amesbury, Massachusetts, February 
28, 1835, aged 78. He was born at Concord, March 2, 
1791. He was instructed at the district school till twelve 
years old, when he was sent to Hanover, and attended the 
Academy under Frederick Hall. He subsequently went to 
Salisbury Academy, Hew Hampshire, and thence to College. 
Soon after graduating, he became engaged as an instructor of 
youth and a student of divinity in the city of New York for 
two years. He then received Episcopal orders, and began to 
preach at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which he continued for 
the same period. His next field of labor was Trenton, New 
Jersey. Here he remained the same length of time. He pro¬ 
ceeded to the South, and was settled in Savannah, Georgia, 
where he discharged the duties of his office in bringing others 
to the Saviour of souls, till the day of his last illness, which 
proved mortal November 1, 1827. He married Maria, 
daughter of Rev. Abraham Beach, of New Brunswick, New 
Jersey, October, 1817. His wife, who deceased October 29, 
1827, preceded him sixty hours in entering on the scenes of 
eternity, and realizing, as we trust, with him, the blessedness 
of tried and true faith. The disease which closed their 
earthly course, was the yellow fever. Their children are 
Anna, wife of Pev. Charles Aldis, of Detroit, Michigan; Rev. 
Abraham Beach, of Yonkers, New York ; and Sarah L. E., 
who resides with her brother. May the covenant mercies of 
the parents ever be the portion of their posterity. 


JAMES CHUTE. 

James Chute was the son of James Chute, who was born 
in Rowley, Massachusetts, 1755, and who died in Madison, 
Indiana, April 8, 1825. His mother’s name was Mehitable 
Thurston. She was born in Rowley, 1753, and died October 
19, 1819. He was born in Rowley, November 15, 1788, 
and died at Fort Wayne, December 25, 1835. He mar- 



19 


ried Martha Hewes Clap, of Boston, for liis first wife, and 
Mary H. Hubbard Crane, of New York city, for his second. 
He has had five children : Bichard, Sarah Caroline Bequa, 
James Thurston, Samuel Hewes, and Eliza Jeannette. Three 
of these, Bichard, Sarah and James, are married, and have 
each one child. 

Mr. Chute fitted for College at the Dummer Academy. 
He taught a school during his vacations. For a few years 
after he graduated, he engaged in mercantile pursuits at the 
West. But he subsequently studied divinity with Bev. James 
Wilson, D. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio ; was then engaged in 
the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and was afterwards Chaplain 
of the State Prison at Columbus. Having resigned his last 
situation, he was settled at Fort Wayne, where he remained 
until his death. 

The study and effort of Mr. Chute were to fill his years 
with usefulness, and in this he was divinely enabled to suc¬ 
ceed. 


AUGUSTUS COOLIDGE. 

Augustus Coolidge was son of Augustus, who lived in a 
part of Boxborough, formerly of Stow, in Massachusetts, and 
moved with his family about 1815, to Madison, New York, 
and afterwards to the central part of Ohio, where he died in 
1823. He was born May 21, 1788. Having graduated, he 
studied medicine with Dr. Charles Newell, of Stow. He 
accompanied his father to the State of New York, and con¬ 
tinued with him there one year. He then left, being in 
feeble health, and went to reside with Dr. William Watson, 
of Bedford, Pennsylvania. After four years residence in 
this quarter, his relatives in Madison received a letter, in 
1820, stating that he was afflicted with a lingering consump¬ 
tion. He continued till April 6, 1821, when he committed 
his spirit to the hands of the Saviour, whom he trusted and 



20 


confessed, as the Author of his salvation. Though a modest 
and reserved man, he was endowed with good talents and a 
disposition to improve them as his strength would allow. 


DANIEL CRAM. 

Daniel Cram, of Francestown, New Hampshire, had his 
birth April 22, 1794. His father was born “at Salisbury, 
near Hampton,” September 14, 1768, and died May 1, 1853. 
His mother, daughter of Deacon David Lewis, of Frances¬ 
town, was born August 20, 1771, and died August 25, 
1831. With a slender constitution, he engaged, after gradu¬ 
ating, in the instruction of a public school at Orford. While 
thus usefully occupied, he gave satisfaction to his employers. 
Looking forward to the course which he might pursue in life, 
consumption appeared to have marked him as one in its long 
train of victims. He made an excursion to Boston, in hopes 
that he would be benefited. But he returned to the house 
of his parents, and there, amid the kindest of attentions, fell 
asleep, October 3, 1814, with the consolations of piety for his 
support. 


FREDERICK CUSHING. 

Frederick Cushing was son of Colonel John and Olive 
Cushing. He had his birth at South Berwick, Maine, 
March 24, 1792. He studied medicine after leaving College. 
He was the first person married by his classmate, Rev. Daniel 
Austin, at Brighton, Massachusetts. His bride was Eliza 
Lanesford, daughter of Rev. John Foster, D. D. She was 
authoress of the interesting work, known as ( The Rivals of 
Acadia/ etc. After marriage, Dr. Cushing resided in Brattle- 




21 


borough, Vermont, and then in Montreal, Canada. Here 
he closed life, August 6, 1846. He had no children, but 
his wife still survives to reflect on his virtues with the 
mixed and varied feelings of joy and sadness. 


AUSTIN DICKINSON. 

Austin Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, 
February 15, 1791. His parents were Azariah and Mary 
(Eastman) Dickinson. He fitted for College at New Salem 
and Deerfield Academies, and with Rev. Josiah W. Cannon, 
of Gill, Massachusetts. He had charge of a district school 
in Leverett, of the same State, one season before he grad¬ 
uated. He read law in his native place two years after 
leaving College. In 1817, he taught a family school one 
year in Georgetown, District of Columbia. In 1818, he 
studied six months at Princeton Theological Seminary, New 
Jersey, and the same period with Rev. Enoch Perkins, D. D., 
of West Hartford, Connecticut. He was licensed to preach 
February 2, 1819, by the North Association of Hartford 
Co., of the same State. He was blessed with an eminently 
pious, wise and faithful mother, whose very early train¬ 
ing deeply impressed upon his childhood and youth a high 
sense of responsibility, a conscientious regard to duty, and a 
profound veneration for the Great Supreme in all his mani¬ 
festations. Her endeavors for his spiritual benefit were 
sanctified to his soul, so that he was eminently prepared for 
the duties of his profession. Though his health was far 
from being robust, he had a strong desire, a firm resolution, 
and exercised a patient continuance to imitate the example of 
his divine Master. Hence, after traveling and preaching and 
being otherwise engaged for the spread of pure religion, he 
passed into East Tennessee. Here he found ministers en¬ 
gaged to raise $10,000 as a fund for a Theological Seminary. 



22 


By his advice, they increased this sum to $35,000. After he 
had secured pledges for about two-thirds of it, they commis¬ 
sioned him to visit several States where he obtained the rest, 
with the assistance of Mr. Hardin, and returned to Maryville, 
July, 1821, with the heart-felt satisfaction of being so divine¬ 
ly favored. 

Having repeated his visit to the Virginia Springs, he went 
to Richmond and spent several months in the family of Rev. 
John H. Rice, D. D. In the meanwhile he corresponded 
and took other needed steps, to establish “The Family 
Visitor.” This publication was the first religious newspaper 
issued South of Mason and Dixon’s line. It flourished for 
several years, and exerted a wide and beneficial influence. It 
was finally united with the “ Christian Observer ” of Phila¬ 
delphia. 

Mr. Dickinson returned to Amherst in June, 1822. He 
was soon solicited to take an agency for collecting funds and 
assisting to obtain a charter for the College, lately instituted 
there. After spending a few months of the autumn at 
Andover Theological Seminary, he entered on this important 
service. Dr. Humphrey, former President of the Institution, 
remarked as follows : Mr. Dickinson “ brought influences to 
bear upon the public mind, which few men could have 
wielded with such skill and success, and to which the College 
is more indebted for its establishment and prosperity, than 
one in a hundred of its present friends is or ever will be 
aware of. If it was not the most important work of his life, 
it was eminently worth living for.” In the winter of 1822-3, 
and for most of a year while so occupied, he supplied the 
pulpit of the first Congregational Church of his native place. 
The Rev. Jacob Abbott, then Professor hi the College there, 
made the subsequent criticism: “ As a preacher, Mr. Dickin¬ 
son excited great attention at the very commencement of his 
career. There was an imposing magnificence in his style ; 
a grandeur in his imagery and in his trains of thought ; and 
a calm and quiet, but at the same time emphatic and impress- 


23 


ive solemnity in his voice and utterance, which combined to 
produce a certain sublime and sombre eloquence, that pos¬ 
sessed, for every intellectual person who listened to it, an 
inexpressible charm. The services of the Sabbath, while he 
officiated, were looked forward to with great anticipations of 
pleasure by the officers and students of the College, and by 
all the cultivated portion of the community.” 

Mr. Dickinson received ordination as an Evangelist, at 
Amherst, April 19, 1826. Not weary in well doing, and 
desirous to aid in the improvement of the American pulpit, 
and afford a useful supply of reading for families and destitute 
congregations, he began to publish, in the city of New York, 
a monthly periodical called the f National Preacher.’ This 
work contained sermons of eminent ministers among all the 
evangelical denominations. Within two or three years, its 
subscription list amounted to twelve thousand. Mr. Dickin¬ 
son continued its editor and proprietor twelve years and a 
half. During this period, he distributed gratuitously nearly 
as many of the Preacher as he forwarded to subscribers. For 
the same time, he expended his income, which was consider¬ 
able, except what he very economically used for his support, 
and also what leisure he had to spare, for the promotion of 
charitable and religious objects. He freely devoted the 
greater part of 1827, as editor to the Tract Society. He was 
author of Tracts Number 276, “ Scriptural Argument for 
Temperance,” Number 283, “Appeal to American Youth on 
Temperance,” Number 384, “ The Day of Trial,” besides 
selecting and condensing many others. In addition to this, 
he often preached for destitute congregations. Early in 
1828, Mr. Dickinson undertook to issue a new Monthly, 
entitled the f Pastor’s Journal.’ Informed that the Home Mis¬ 
sionary Society intended to publish a periodical, he proposed 
that his Journal should be united with it, which was accord¬ 
ingly done. 

In June, 1831, for the improvement of his health, and 
objects of information and usefulness, Mr. Dickinson em- 


24 


barked in company with Rev. Asahel Nettleton for Europe. 
They reached London when a strong desire prevailed in 
England to understand the character of American revivals. 
On this and other accounts, they were frequently invited to 
attend pastoral meetings and preach on the Sabbath. They 
made many acquaintances with distinguished clergymen and 
physicians in Great Britain, and acquired valuable informa¬ 
tion of its educational and benevolent institutions. The 
prevalence of the cholera prevented their visit to the Conti¬ 
nent, and admonished them to return home. This they did 
in the autumn of 1832. 

His health having become more impaired and his eyes 
severely inflamed, Mr. Dickinson was urged by his friends to 
relinquish the care of the f National Preacher,’ in which he 
published various sermons, and seek for a rural residence. 
He concluded, in the fall of 1838, to engage in obtaining 
subscribers for the New York Observer. This he prosecuted 
with his accustomed energy and perseverance for almost six 
years. In the spring of 1844, Mr. Dickinson commenced 
his last important enterprise. In reference to it his language 
follows : “ From my connection with the press, and inter¬ 
course with editors of various classes for some twenty years, 
the desirableness of making common secular newspapers the 
channels of a decidedly religious influence often recurred to 
my mind. But it was not till after a more particular investi¬ 
gation of their numbers and vast controlling influence, that I 
felt urged, by an imperative sense of duty, to volunteer in a 
special effort for their improvement.” A distinguished 
author said of him, January, 1849, while ably and success¬ 
fully prosecuting so noble a work, “ He possesses in a very 
unusual degree, the high intellectual and moral qualifications 
requisite for the successful execution of such a plan.” After 
a winter of labor, which severely taxed his mental and physi¬ 
cal powers, Mr. Dickinson left Boston in the spring, where 
he had spent most of the year, and sought rest in the family 
of his brother in the city of New York. Here he was seized 


25 


with the cholera, and died August 15, 1849, with the strong 
hope of a blessed immortality. His remains were removed to 
and buried in the town of his birth. The place of their repose 
is denoted by a chaste and beautiful monument, erected by a 
few of his friends. “ Behold the upright, for the end of that 
man is peace.” 

In his domestic as well as in his other relations, Mr. Dick¬ 
inson adorned the doctrines of his Saviour. He married 
Laura Camp, eldest daughter of Mr. Joel Camp, of Litch¬ 
field county, Connecticut, then of New York, April 26, 
1836. Her talents, education and sympathies welb fitted 
her to be his help-meet indeed. They had one daughter, 
who died in infancy. His wife survived him, and was 
married April 15, 1852, to Lev. Dirck C. Lansing, D. D., 
of Brooklyn, New York. The blessing of the Highest ever 
rests on the devoted followers of his Son. 


JAMES DINSMORE. 

James Dinsmore had his birth at Windham, New Hamp¬ 
shire, August 24, 1790. His parents were John Dinsmore, 
and Susannah Bell, daughter of John Bell, of Londonderry, 
and sister to Samuel and- John Bell, formerly Governors of 
the Granite State. He studied at the Atkinson Academy, 
under Mr. John Yose, and then at the Londonderry Academy, 
in preparation for College. After entering as freshman, he 
taught school each winter of his four years course. Having 
received his first degree, he read law with John Porter, Esq., 
of Londonderry, and afterwards in the office of Judge Turner, 
in Natchez, Mississippi. Induced by favorable offers of a 
friend to leave the legal profession and engage with him in 
cultivating a plantation for cotton and sugar, he accordingly 
became occupied in this business. Thus employed, he spent 
twenty-five years in Mississippi and Louisiana. But the 
4 



26 


climate not being favorable to his health, he removed to 
Kentucky, where he has resided fourteen years. As to his 
domestic relations, he was married in 1829 to Martha 
Macomb, daughter of Alexander Macomb, of Georgetown, 
District of Columbia, and sister to Governor Macomb. He 
writes, “ We have two daughters living, whom the mother 
thinks remarkably fine.” 

Tall, stout, and athletic when young, as well as at present, 
there is a nobleness of bearing in his person and manners. 
He remarks, “ Although I have lived so long in the back- 
woods, among those who are considered by many in the East 
as wild and dangerous people, I have never fought a duel, 
never received a challenge, never been shot at.” Pursuing 
the even tenor of his life, he has consented, at times, to 
serve as a magistrate and member of the County Court. As 
an author, he has contributed various communications to the 
public prints, on agricultural and political economy. 

In his letter, he mentions several events, relative to his 
class-mates, which denote his kind affections towards them. 
He dwells with pleasure on a pedestrian excursion with Felt, 
in their sophomore year, to the top of Ascutney Mountain.. 
He says, “ Many years ago, I went into the legislative hall at 
Natchez and saw what appeared to be the ghost of Austin 
Dickinson. He was reading a communication to the Legis¬ 
lature, which I found was an application for assistance to 
establish a Theological College in Tennessee. He appeared 
to have worked himself down until he was but the shadow 
of a shade. I afterwards met him in Boston and New York, 
ever, like his Master, going about doing good.” With refer¬ 
ence to meeting with survivors of his class the last year, his 
words are, “To enjoy the same pleasure, I would travel 
twice as far this year.” When the time for such sessions is 
closed with them, may he and they be fitted for those which 
have no end and ever abound in wisdom and blessedness. 


27 


THOMAS M. EDWARDS. 

Thomas M. Edwards was born at Keene, New Hamp¬ 
shire, December 16, 1795. His parents were Thomas and 
Matilda (Chandler) Edwards. The former of these two died 
April 12, 1837, aged eighty years, and the latter November 
24, 1843, at the same age; both of them deceased at Keene. 
The instruction of Mr. Edwards, for entrance into College, 
was chiefly under the Rev. John Sabin, of Eitzwilliam. After 
graduation, he read law with Foster Alexander, Esq., of 
Keene, Hon. Thomas Burgess, of Providence, Rhode Island, 
and Hon. Henry Hubbard, of Charlestown, New Hampshire. 
He began the practice of his profession at the place of his 
birth in 1817, and continued it until 1845. In the year last 
named, he was appointed President of the Cheshire Railroad, 
extending fifty miles, from Bellows Falls, Yt., to South 
Ashburnham, Mass. He held this trust to 1852, when he 
had the satisfaction of reporting, that he had seen to the 
entire construction of the road and to having it put in full 
operation. In addition to so responsible a position, Mr. Ed¬ 
wards was Post Master from 1817 to 1829; has been at 
various times a Member of the Legislature ; is now President 
of the Ashuelot Bank, and the Ashuelot Mutual Fire Insur¬ 
ance Company, institutions located in Keene. 

As to his domestic concerns, Mr. Edwards was married, on 
the 26th of May, 1840, to Mary H. Fiske, daughter of 
Phineas and Mary (Hart) Fiske, of the same town. He ob¬ 
serves, “We have had seven children, and have six now 
living.” With regard to publications, he has had some legal 
arguments, addresses, and contributions, on current topics of 
the day, printed in newspapers. According to his character¬ 
istic modesty and evenness of deportment, he expresses him¬ 
self; “ I cannot say, that my life has been marked by any 
very remarkable incidents. I have always been actively em- 


28 


ployed, professionally and otherwise, and have been reasonably 
succesful in all matters I have undertaken.” This is indeed 
a favorable lot. It points heavenward. 


DANIEL ELLIOT. 

In a reply, dated Marlborough, Ulster county. New York, 
October 1, 1853, to Mr. Greenleaf, he writes as follows : 

“ I have before me your Circular, calling a meeting of our 
Class at the late Commencement of our venerable Alma Mater. 
That meeting has been held,—and with what an overflow of 
good feeling and depth of enjoyment, none better than your¬ 
self can tell. ‘ After forty years’ wanderings,’ a remnant— 
scarcely a third part—-of our goodly class have had the priv¬ 
ilege once more ‘to look each other in the face,’ and to 
press each other’s hands in earnest welcome. Those faces 
had not passed unscathed through the discipline of forty 
years. You will remember that some of us were sadly per¬ 
plexed by the marks that this long period had made upon 
our persons ;—-and in one instance, at least, all cue * to per¬ 
sonal identity had been lost—or cut off! 

“We parted in 1813 as c hi juvenes,’—we met in 1853 as 
‘ patres conscripti,’—yea, some of us as conscript grand¬ 
fathers. We parted with high aspirations, ardent hopes, and 
brilliant expectations of the good gifts the world had in store 
for us. We met with changed views of worldly good—the 
retrospection of our forty years of anxious toil and diverse 
experience but ill comparing with those early hopes. Never¬ 
theless, it was a delightful meeting—was it not ? You 
remember how, as we warmed up, hour after hour, and 


* “ I hope I shall not be accused of irreverent allusion to an object, which 
I am sure is affectionately embalmed in the memory of every brother of 
the Class.” [This refers to the hair of Mr. Greenleaf, which he wore, in 
college, tied up with a piece of ribbon.] 




29 


began to f get the hang ’ of each other’s altered faces,— 
the speech, the smile, the youthful feeling of by-gone days 
returned, and we were almost boys again together, in spite 
of bald heads, grey locks, and stiffened muscles. And yet, 
Mr. Chairman, there was a vein of sadness running through 
and tempering our enjoyment. For example, when you 
produced that weather-beaten old ‘ Catalogue for 1810,’ 
and proceeded to call over the names of the absent and the 
dead, together with those of the present, how vividly the 
cherished images of the departed rose to the imagination, 
and passed along in sad procession! A goodly company; 
peace to their manes! 

“ But a glance at your Circular, with its formidable e inter¬ 
rogatories,’ reminds me that I am wandering from ‘the 
point proposed’—-a proceeding which I can hardly expect 
to meet the approval of your mathematical mind. I must, 
therefore, proceed to answer some of your inquiries of a 
personal nature, if you will allow me to do it in my own 
way. 

“ I was born on the first of October, 1792, in the town 
of Dublin, Cheshire county. New Hampshire, under the 
right wing of that glorious old mountain. Grand Monadnock. 
My grandfather, William Elliot, a native of Haverhill, Mas¬ 
sachusetts, was one of the early settlers of Mason, New 
Hampshire, whence my father, David, came to Dublin 
about the year 1780. He owned a large farm, and was 
one among the most substantial and respected citizens of 
the town. My mother, Lucy Emery, was from Town¬ 
send, Massachusetts. My father died during my infancy, 
and my mother lived a widow for more than fifty years, 
attaining, within a few weeks, to the age of ninety years. 
A just eulogy on her character would be out of place here. 
Of two sons and two daughters left in her charge, I was 
much the youngest ; and when, in due time, the elder 
were married and away, it became a question what was to be 
done with this odd remainder. District schools, in those 


30 


days, were not always our next-door neighbors, nor were 
they in operation a sufficient proportion of the time to keep 
an idle boy out of mischief. I was, therefore, sent to vari¬ 
ous schools, public and private, till my fourteenth year, when 
I was put into the hands of a country ‘store-keeper’ to 
learn the art and mystery of money-making. But, though 
under the charge of a very competent teacher, (one of the 
well-known Appleton family,) by some fatality I never got 
thoroughly imbued with the proper spirit. Perhaps the 
difficulty is organic. Phrenologists give me ‘Acquisitive¬ 
ness, moderate,’—the more’s the pity! Another difficulty 
was, that I had charge of two circulating libraries, one 
belonging to a society of ladies, the other to the men. 
After spending some three years hi this position, I abandoned 
the yard-stick and scales, and began to prepare for College, 
chiefly at Chesterfield Academy, and in the fall of 1810 
joined the sophomore class at Dartmouth. What our Col¬ 
lege life was, you, Mr. Chairman, remember, as well as most 
of those who will feel an interest in looking over the pages 
of this our book of epitaphs and remembrances. For myself, 
I can truly say, that I remember very much of enjoyment, 
and very little of the opposite. I have, indeed, a dreamy 
kind of recollection of periodical fogs, dense enough, almost, 
to swim in—of bitter cold morning exercises in the old 
chapel, when our venerable President shook like an aspen 
in his everlasting drab great-coat; and the horrors of one 
quarter’s board in ‘ commons,’ are not fully erased from my 
memory. Still I have more frequent visions of cozy times 
in the study with my chum—of pleasant scenes in the recit¬ 
ation room, animated society meetings, social pleasures, 
ardent sports upon the common, and all those nameless 
enjoyments that contribute to make a College life the happiest 
portion of one’s existence. Yes, deride who may, I confess 
to a love for Alma Mater, and to a grateful remembrance of 
the days passed under her wing. ‘ If I forget thee, O Jeru¬ 
salem ! may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth! ’ 


31 


“ After graduating, I commenced the study of medicine, 
and spent the first year with Dr. Cyrus Perkins, then a Pro¬ 
fessor in the Medical College at Hanover, an inmate of his 
family. The second year was passed at Keene, with Dr. 
Amos Twitchell. As both these gentlemen were distin¬ 
guished in their profession, particularly in surgery, it fol¬ 
lowed, of course, that I saw not a few severe cases in the 
course of their practice. As the period approached for 
entering upon the professional field, relying upon my own 
resources, I shrunk from the responsibility, and deserted 
from the ranks of the profession—thereby, doubtless, con¬ 
tributing to the longevity of many friends, who have lived 
unconscious of their escape from danger. 

“ In the fall of 1815, I set my face southward, with a very 
indefinite idea of what I should find or do there. Arrived 
at New York city, I sought out our friend Greele, who had 
a flourishing private school a few miles from town. Having 
an invitation to teach mathematics, latin, &c., in a Friends’ 
boarding school for young ladies in the same neighborhood, 
I remained there for about a year. While there, by a com¬ 
plication of fatalities, not necessary to be explained here, Mr. 
Greele and myself, with Luther Clark, (whom some of you 
will recollect,) became interested in a manufactory of window- 
glass and trading establishment, located under the south wing 
of the Catskill Mountains, in Ulster county, N. Y. In fur¬ 
therance of our objects, I consented to take up my abode on 
the premises, and undertook the general charge of the busi¬ 
ness. It is hardly possible to conceive of a greater change, 
or more violent contrast in pursuits or manner of life, than 
I then encountered. The business was extensive, hazardous, 
laborious and complicated. It placed me in the midst of a 
rude population, some of whom could scarcely speak Eng¬ 
lish, and in charge of a large number of operatives, mostly 
foreigners, of intemperate habits and offensive manners. 
How unlike my previous manner of life, and especially to 
the quiet school-room of my gentle Quaker pupils! How- 


32 


ever , I fought my way through, with a gradual amelioration 
in the state of things, for the term of ten weary years, and 
was glad to escape at last without serious disaster to myself 
or others. 

“ In 1818, I married Abby Greele, (sister of our class¬ 
mate,) a native of Wilton, N. H., then residing with her 
brother near New York. In 1827,1 removed to New York 
city, and became connected with Mr. Greele in the commis¬ 
sion business, chiefly devoted to paper and collateral branches 
of trade. This connection continued, with some modifications, 
till 1838, when Mr. Greele withdrew. I continued in the 
business, with other partners, till 1844, when I again turned 
my face country-ward, and purchased a small farm on the 
right bank of the Hudson, seven miles north of Newburg, 
where I have vegetated up to this present writing, and where 
I shall be most happy to greet you, Mr. Chairman, or any of 
our confreres. 

“ But I see that I have not yet done with the f interroga¬ 
tories ’ in your Circular, (some of which are rather search¬ 
ing,) notwithstanding all this garrulity. To questions eight 
and nine, I reply,—Of children we count four, viz: (1.) 
Lucy Ann, born 1819, educated in New York, and married 
to Augustus F. Smith, Counsellor at Law, of the same city. 
(2.) Augustus Greele, bom 1821, graduated at Yale 1839, 
went through a full course of medical studies in New York, 
now in Poughkeepsie; married Elizabeth A. Proctor, daugh¬ 
ter of the late Amos Proctor, of New York. (3.) Henry 
Bond, born 1823, graduated at New York University in 
1840, educated for the ministry at Union Theological Sem¬ 
inary, New York, and at Andover, now in Springfield, Mas¬ 
sachusetts; married Martha A. Skinner, daughter of Bev. 
Dr. T. H. Skinner, of New York. (4.) Caroline Cornelia 
Greele, born 1826, educated in New York ; married George 
J. Cornell, Counsellor at Law, also of New York. 

“ As you forgot to inquire after the third generation, I will 
merely remark, in passing, that we rejoice in twelve grand- 


33 

children,—a hopeful progeny! Which of you counts 
more ? ” 

Thus we have gladly quoted from Mr. Elliot’s classic and 
highly interesting letter, what is far better than the com¬ 
mittee could offer. Though he has been engaged in active 
business, not so congenial with letters as other occupations, yet 
he evidently still retains his strong attachment for them, and 
has laudably cultivated his acquaintance with them. A friend 
of his informs us, as we should naturally suppose from our 
recollection of his taste for the fine arts while in College, that 
at his seat on the Hudson, he has a fine collection of Paint¬ 
ings. We are glad that the superior mind, which can appre ¬ 
ciate and enjoy the works of human and divine skill, has the 
means of being so gratified. 


EBENEZER EVERETT. 

Ebenezer Everett was born at Francestown, New Hamp¬ 
shire, August 31, 1789. His father, having served as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his mother, L. Battle, 
moved from Dedham, Massachusetts, to that place. The first 
of his parents died twenty-five years ago, and the second now 
survives, at the age of ninety-eight years. He was licensed 
to preach June 6, 1815. He was installed at Ogden, Mon¬ 
roe county, New York, and afterwards at Oak’s corner, 
Ontario county, of the same State. He took a dismission 
from this parish the last year. Since then he has been labor¬ 
iously engaged in Genesee county, in collecting funds and 
distributing the Scriptures for their Bible Society. 

Mr. Everett married Betsey Post, of Durham county. 
New York, October, 1817. She lived nearly eight years, 
and left two daughters, the eldest of whom survives, and is 
the wife of Addison A. Hayes, Esq. After continuing a 
widower nearly five years, he married Laura M. Stanley, 
5 



34 


daughter of Nathan Walden, of Canandaigua, New York, 
who served in the Revolutionary War, and is now ninety- 
two years old and resides with his family. By his second 
wife he has had several children, two sons of whom live and 
are usefully employed. 

Mr. Everett is a strong advocate for temperance and anti¬ 
slavery. He has labored long and zealously to promote the 
cause of morality and religion. He observes, “ I have seen 
but few of my class-mates since leaving College. A star 
tells the tale in regard to the most of them. 35 He still 
speaks of his readiness and strength to discharge the duties of 
a gospel minister. His language indicates that he knows 
the worth of a good hope in Christ, and that this is his light 
in darkness, his joy in sorrow, and his encouragement to look 
for perfect rest beyond the grave. 


BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FARNSWORTH. 

Benjamin Franklin Farnsworth was born in Bridgton, 
Maine, December 17, 1793. He was the third of eight 
children of his parents, who were both natives of Groton, 
Massachusetts. His father, Samuel, was of English descent, 
and an eminent physician in the town of Bridgton, having 
an extensive practice in the surrounding country. His 
mother, Betsey Fitch, was daughter of Zechariah Fitch, of 
Scotch origin. He was father of a numerous family. He 
was owner of a large tract of land in what was then called 
“ District of Maine,” in consequence of which his daughter 
Betsey, after her marriage, and several of his other children, 
settled there, and many of their descendants are still residing 
in the same quarter. 

Benjamin entered the freshman year. One of the most 
important events in his College life, was his experience 
of an affectionate trust in Christ as his only Redeemer. 



35 


After graduating, he began his theological course with Rev. 
Edward Pay son, D. D., pastor of one of the Congregational 
Churches in Portland, Maine, with whom he remained one 
year. During this time his mind was led particularly to 
examine the subject of baptism, and by the impulse of his 
mind and suggestion of his tutor, he spent a season in fasting 
and prayer for divine direction. The result was, he became 
convinced that the scriptural view on the subject inculcated 
that believers are the only subjects, and immersion the only 
mode of baptism. 

The following year he studied with Rev. William Stough¬ 
ton, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Immediately 
after closing his studies with Dr. Stoughton, he accepted a 
call to the pastoral charge of the Baptist Church in Edenton, 
North Carolina, where he received ordination, and August 
20, 1817, was married in Boston, by Rev. Dr. Baldwin, to 
Miss Julia A. Cushing. Miss Cushing was daughter of 
John and Julia Cushing, of Boston, and grand-daughter of 
Rev. Dr. Cushing, at that time pastor of the Congregational 
Church in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. In consequence of 
the failure of Mrs. Farnsworth’s health in Edenton, he 
resigned the pastoral care of the church in less than two 
years, and returned to her native State. The event of her 
death took place in Middleborough, Massachusetts, Septem¬ 
ber 17, 1819. She left two children. The daughter died 
in early infancy; the son, Henry Fitch, survived, and married 
Charlotte M. Palmer, of Memphis, Tennessee, where they 
reside. 

Mr. Farnsworth, in the ardor of youth, intended to devote 
himself to a foreign mission, but the state of his health, and 
other events of Providence, indicating that he would not be 
able to sustain the duties of the pastoral office, he devoted 
himself to the object of education. Soon after his return 
from Edenton, he took charge of the Academy in Middle- 
borough. 

August 2, 1821, Mr. Farnsworth was the second time 


36 


united in marriage, by Rev. Dr. Baldwin, to Miss Maria C. 
Ripley, daughter of John and Jane Ripley, and sister of Prof. 
H. J. Ripley, D. D., of the Newton Theological Institution. 
By his second marriage he had five children, two of whom 
only survive. The daughter, Julia Maria, married P. H. 
Thomson, living near Lexington, Kentucky. The son, 
Thomas Ripley, married Miss Nannie H. Thomson, of Cin¬ 
cinnati, Ohio. 

In September of the same year, having been solicited by 
the Trustees of Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Academy to 
become its preceptor, he complied with their invitation. 
Here he found himself too much limited in his religious 
efforts to admit of his doing as much for the spiritual welfare 
of his pupils as his feelings and sense of duty required. 
He remained in Bridgewater only two years, when, being 
requested to open a High School for young ladies in Worces¬ 
ter, Massachusetts, he removed thither and sustained a high 
reputation as a teacher. An interim here occurred, during 
which he became editor of the f Christian Watchman,’ a paper 
published in Boston. 

Subsequently, he was solicited to take charge of the New 
Hampton Institution, located in New Hampshire, as Princi¬ 
pal of the Academical department and Professor of Theology. 
After mature deliberation and prayerful consideration, he 
accepted the unanimous appointment, and entered upon his 
duties in May, 1826. Here he spent seven of the most 
useful years of his life, a blessing to the Institution, and being 
blessed himself in seeing abundant proof of the favor of 
Heaven upon his laborious efforts. Here he probably would 
have lived and labored many years longer, had he not been 
requested to take the Presidency of Georgetown College, in 
Kentucky. After proper consideration, he thought favorably 
of going; but subsequently learning some facts of an un¬ 
pleasant character connected with the College, he abandoned 
the idea. But how very favorably his labors at New Hamp¬ 
ton were appreciated by the Trustees and Overseers of the 


37 


Institution, may be learned from one of their resolves, when 
informed of his death. (( Resolved, That we acknowledge 
with gratitude the kindness of God in raising up instruments, 
adapted to particular exigencies ; and that the patrons of the 
Institution have occasion to cherish, with lively emotions, 
the memory of the deceased, who contributed so largely to 
its prosperity and usefulness.” 

The next two years he spent in Providence, R. I., where 
he established two High Schools ; one for young gentlemen, 
the other for young ladies. He was then requested to visit 
Georgetown, which he accordingly did ; and after receiving 
a unanimous appointment, he accepted the Presidency and 
entered upon the duties in the autumn of 1836. But the 
College was again destined to wade through difficulties 
which had a serious bearing upon its prospects, and rendered 
Mr. Farnsworth’s situation very unhappy; and in less than 
one year he resigned the Presidency, and was induced to 
remove to Louisville, Kentucky, where he commenced a 
School which he intended as the nucleus of a College. He 
succeeded in organizing a Board of Trustees, and prepared 
a charter which was passed by the Legislature. He also 
obtained an annual appropriation from the city, and received 
the appointment of President. Thus the beginning was 
made which, after a lapse of years, has resulted in the Uni¬ 
versity of Louisville. The degree of D. D. was conferred 
on him by the Trustees of Georgetown College, during the 
administration of Rev. Howard Malcom, D. D., now Presi¬ 
dent of Lewisburg College, Pa. 

A reviewer of his fife made the subsequent remarks : 
“ From this narrative it is clear, that the lamented Farns¬ 
worth may properly be called a ‘ Master Builder 5 in the 
Temple of Science, and that generations yet unborn shall 
reap the fruit of his labors. I feel that he should not be 
permitted to sink into the grave without some public 
acknowledgment, some fair exhibition of his achievements in 
the noble cause of education. He richly merits the name 


38 


and the praise of a benefactor to his race. His feeble con¬ 
stitution did not permit him to take the pastoral charge of a 
church, yet when his strength permitted, and God in his 
providence opened a door, he delighted to point his fellow 
sinners to f the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of 
the world.’ ” 

Another writer added the following : “ The friends of Dr. 
Farnsworth know that, for years past, his general health has 
been feeble. They will be glad to learn that, from occa¬ 
sional mental depression he happily emerged some time pre¬ 
vious to mortal dissolution, and in auspicious sunrise was 
gently loosened from the shores of time, to be with Christ. 
If his faith for a season had been buried in the waters of 
adversity, it was that it might thence emerge with a purer 
whiteness. We learn that he was perfectly conscious in his 
last hours. Being asked how he felt in view of death, 
he replied, ‘ Glory to God ! I am going home ; my home 
is in heaven ! ’ Referring to his protracted suffering, he 
said, c A long sickness and a slow death ; ’ and repeated the 
lines— 

‘ Why do my minutes move so slow, 

Nor my salvation come ? * 

The moment at length arrived when the burden and the 
heat were to be over, and the servant was to be rewarded 
for faithful toil. 

* He closed his eyelids with a tranquil smile, 

And seemed to rest in silent prayer awhile.’ ” 


SAMUEL FARNSWORTH. 

Samuel Farnsworth was son of Doctor Samuel and 
Betsey Farnsworth, who moved from Groton, Massachusetts, 
to Bridgton, Maine, where he was born, October 19, 1791. 
He prepared for College at Fryeburg Academy, under the 



39 


tuition of Amos J. Cook. He studied medicine with his 
father, after receiving his first degree, and the last six 
months of his professional studies in Boston, Massachusetts, 
with Dr. George C. Shattuck. He took his medical degree 
at Hanover, New Hampshire, in the autumn of 1816. He 
began practice in his native place, with his father. Their 
partnership continued a year, and then he moved to North 
Bridgton, where he passed the remainder of his days. He 
married Nancy Mussey, of Standish, Maine, September 16, 
1817. They had the following children: Harriet Mussey, 
born April 10, 1819, married to Dr. Moses C. Richard¬ 
son, August 23, 1846, and died June 1, 1848, leaving an 
infant, but five days old, to her mother. This child still 
lives with its worthy grandparent.—George Shattuck, bom 
January 11, 1821, who resides at North Bridgton, as a 
merchant. He married Cordelia C. Frye, December, 1847, 
and has one child, born September 16, 1849.—Charles 
Henry, born June 14, 1823. He studied with Dr. Thomas 
F. Perley, and received a medical degree at New York, 
March, 1847. He married Lois S. Nelson, of Jay, Maine, 
June, 1849, who died the following 13th of September. For 
his second wife, he married Elizabeth A. Hazen, February 18, 
1853, adopted daughter of Nathan W. Hazen, Esq., of 
Andover, Massachusetts.—Caroline Dana, bom May, 31, 
1825.—Ellen Amelia,, born April 10, 1831.—Maria A., 
born January 11, 1835. The last three daughters reside 
with then* mother at North Bridgton. 

After experiencing various scenes, common to the lot of 
man in a world of sin and change, Dr. Farnsworth was called 
to take his leave of all he held dear in fife, April 13, 1842. 
“ He was a successful physician and surgeon, particularly the 
latter, owing in part to a calm, cool, deliberate temperament, 
added to a thorough knowledge of his profession. As a son, 
he was obedient and dutiful. As a husband, very kind and 
affectionate. As a father, attentive and indulgent.” So 
speaks a love, which many waters cannot quench. 


JOSEPH B. FELT. 


As the class interrogatories lay before him, the writer can 
hardly restrain the expression,—What is the use for him to 
give prominent points in his earthly course, and have them 
clad in the varied forms of typographic art ? What will it 
be to the countless myriads of his race, who have, do and 
will exist, till they shall have put on their immortality, 
according to probationary principles and conduct ? Still 
more, what can it be to the higher order of intelligences, 
from the lowest angels to the Infinite ? It cannot be even 
as the dust to the balance. On the boundless waters of dura ¬ 
tion, it can scarcely cause the least visible undulation. Still 
the Ruler of the universe has so fitted the human family for 
a wise purpose, to exert an influence on all the accountable 
offspring of his power, that they have sympathies and aspira¬ 
tions, which may be dutifully gratified by taking note of 
mutual changes and experiences. 

Mr. Felt was born in Salem, Massachusetts, December 22, 
1789. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Curtis) Felt. 
He well remembers how they tenderly and faithfully watched 
over him, and provided for his reasonable wants; and how 
that, like other children, he had stronger faith in his parental 
declarations than in those of all the world beside. 

One of his earliest recollections, indicative of decisive 
bias, was the following. On the cold, snowy morning of 
January 14, 1796, he heard that a man was to be executed 
for murder. Silent and alone, he walked half a mile from 
his home to the prison, there made his way through a dense 
crowd to the cart which held the prisoner, Henry Blackburn, 
and intently watched the sad ceremonies of fitting him for the 
scene of the gallows. Having scrutinized the prisoner, sitting 
upon his coffin, dressed in the habiliments common for the 
occasion, he followed him to the Episcopal church, where a 


41 


sermon was to be delivered by its minister, and then hast¬ 
ened back to the accustomed fireside, lest an alarm should 
be the result of his long absence. Such an inclination, as 
manifested in this and many other instances of discomfort 
and fatigue, to satisfy an awakened curiosity, being natural 
to the boy, has never entirely deserted the man. Though 
he shut out from his puerile creed of honor all impertinence, 
he never suffered toil for the pleasures of proper intelligence 
to break down his onward purpose. 

The father of Mr. Felt, a commander of vessels engaged 
in the European and India trade, at a period when prosper¬ 
ous commerce kept him abroad the most of his time, could 
attend but little to the education of him and the other chil¬ 
dren. But his mother, of superior capacity for her charge 
of a large family, was always careful that they should be 
regular attendants at school, and be kept under salutary 
restraints. He also vividly brings to mind the story, the 
character and the Scripture, which, as they gathered around 
her in their sacred soirees, she related to them for their spir¬ 
itual benefit. For such devotedness, the tongue of filial 
gratitude is unable to express its full obligations. 

Most of the tuition received by Mr. Felt, till he was four¬ 
teen years old, was at a public school. This, however, 
favored with an efficient master, was not improved with 
lessons of grammar, geography and maps, as it has been, in 
other kindred institutions, for a considerable period since. 

At the age just mentioned, and having lost his father, who 
died at Martha’s Vineyard, August 23, 1802, aged 38, after 
a long and trying passage from India, he concluded, on 
advice with his mother, to enter a store and qualify himself 
for a merchant. Here, with variety of experience, he 
attended to the calls of his position. Among the books 
which he read in his leisure hours, were some of biography. 
These contained characters who, in their youth, sought and 
obtained the advantages of collegiate education, through their 
personal effort and the assistance of friends, and who 
6 


own 


42 


had thus become increasingly useful without the fullness of 
fortune. Particularly was he interested in the early outset 
of Ledyard in such an enterprise. The process of his fre¬ 
quent thoughts on the subject, led him finally to open the 
question to his mother. She generously seconded his resolve, 
though the impression prevailed much more in sea-ports than 
in rural towns, that the collegian must have a wealthy spon¬ 
sor to foot his bills. 

In June, 1808, Mr. Felt went to attend an Academy at 
Atkinson, New Hampshire, under the care of Hon. John 
Vose. While inquiring for the mansion, where he expected 
to board, he was answered, “Follow the chaise, directly 
before you.” This was done. It proved an important thread 
in the web of his life. A fair occupant of the guiding car¬ 
riage, unconsciously pre-acting the part of a help-meet, 
became, in after years, his betrothed and bride. His plan 
was to enter College in a year from the next Commence¬ 
ment. To accomplish this, he was aware that labor, and not 
pleasure, must be his motto and example. A year’s trial 
taught him, that there was more difficulty in his way, than 
anticipation had suggested, and that double the period was 
too short for such an object to be sufficiently obtained. 
Haste, in an undertaking of this kind, brings a heavy tax on 
the mental powers and physical energies, and renders its 
subject a hard laborer through all his collegiate course, so 
that he may keep equal pace with his compeers in talent. 

On the 6th of October, 1809, Mr. Felt took the stage at 
Atkinson for Dartmouth College. The driver, more intent 
on gain than justice to his solitary passenger, deceived him 
with the story that he could be carried directly through. 
He was anxiously and expensively detained at Concord. 
Walking to Salisbury, while his baggage was taken along by 
a team, he there hired a man to convey him and it in a 
chaise to his place of destination. Here he arrived, after a 
hard night’s journey. Thus his approach to the seat of the 
muses, was far from being through sylvan walks and dulcet 
strains. 


43 


On the 9th, Mr. Felt was admitted to the freshman class. 
Engaged to teach a winter school, he was seated, on the 2d 
of December, in a sleigh with his trunk, of a large size, by 
the side of the principal College edifice, ready to set out and 
enter on the untried services of his contract. A civil officer, 
with a posse comitatus, politely addressed him, and said that 
he had come from an adjacent town to rescue several dead 
bodies, supposed to have been stolen from their graves by 
medical students and brought to the premises for lecturing 
purposes. Whether a consciousness of being wholly clear 
of the matter, appeared in the countenance and bearing of 
Mr. Felt, or other circumstances concurred, the servant of 
the law merely put his hand into the trunk and speedily 
allowed it and him to pass without further detention. Inno¬ 
cence is the most fearless and safest protection. 

With the diversified experience inseparable from one pro¬ 
gressing through the grades and scenes of freshman, sopho¬ 
more and junior classes, always affording to the reflective 
view of self-acquaintance, many deficiencies which might be 
supplied, and many imperfections which might be improved, 
Mr. Felt returned to College, February 26, 1813. His 
prospect was fair, that health would enable him to spend the 
whole term in vigorous application, so that the close of it 
might find him better fitted to move in the sphere divinely 
allotted for him. But the vision was clouded; the hope 
disappointed. He soon perceived that a cold, contracted by 
exposure on the route, had settled in his right eye, which 
has ever since, at different times, been a source of severe 
suffering and self-denial with regard to his studies. When 
all medical skill proved ineffectual, he had leave, on the 
10th of May, to seek the alleviations of home. 

Without sight enough to continue his literary pursuits, 
and uncertain when he might have it sufficiently; weary 
with having naught to occupy his time and attention, for a 
livelihood, and invited by a friend to become his partner in 
business, to which he had been formerly accustomed, Mr. 
* 


44 


Felt concluded to make trial of the proffered accommodation. 
But the revulsion which occurred in mercantile affairs, while 
the second war with England was continued, closed their 
connection and brought him more fully to cast himself on 
the guidance of Providence, and to have it as the petition of 
his heart—- 

** The good we ask not, Father, grant, 

The ill, we ask, deny.” 

Though far from having recovered the healthy tone of 
his vision, and far from feeling himself sufficient for the 
mysteries of the gospel, Mr. Felt revived his purpose to 
prepare for the ministry. This he commenced, January 7, 

1814, under the direction of Bev. Samuel Worcester, D. D. 
On June 15, he added to his employment the instruction of 
a private school. He received license to preach, March 21, 

1815, from the Essex Association, and was frequently em¬ 
ployed on the Sabbath by adjacent congregations. On the 
18 th of December, having been invited to exchange his 
school for another, long eligibly sustained' by proprietors, he 
began the teaching of the latter. He was married, Septem¬ 
ber 18, 1816, to Abigail Adams Shaw, daughter of Bev. 
John Shaw, who died at Haverhill, Massachusetts, September 
29 , 1794, and of Elizabeth Smith Shaw, 1 who subsequently 
became the wife of Bev. Stephen Peabody, of Atkinson, 
New Hampshire, where she closed life, April 9, 1815. Mr. 
Felt has had but one child, a daughter, which deceased in 
early infancy. 

Having made an improvement in their municipal concerns, 
by the erection of an almshouse with a chapel, Salem judi¬ 
ciously resolved, that their poor should have the gospel more 
statedly and frequently preached unto them. Their overseers 
invited Mr. Felt to minister as the chaplain. He assumed 


1 She was daughter of the Rev. William Smith, of Weymouth, and 
sister to the wives of Judge Richard Cranch, and John Adams, President 
of the United States. 



45 


this service on the 16th of February, 1817. He withdrew 
from it on the 15th of August, 1819, so that he might have 
an opportunity to seek a settlement elsewhere. With a sim¬ 
ilar object in view, he resigned his school, December 17, 
of the same year. 

After several calls, he was ordained at Sharon, Massachu¬ 
setts, December 19, 1821. As his society, by secession 
from the town parish, were lessened in number and means, 
and were burdened with the expenses of building a new 
house of worship, and thus found it difficult to pay the 
salary agreed on, he concluded, by April 19, 1824, to change 
his field of labor. Then his own congregation and another 
of Stoughton made proposals for him to take charge of them 
both. But he judged that an arrangement of this sort would 
exceed his strength, and not be so well for them as a dif¬ 
ferent one. In the meanwhile, he was invited to settle at 
Hamilton, as successor of Rev. Manasseh Cutler, D.’ D. 
Here he was installed the 16th of the next June. 

On June 24, 1825, Mr. Felt made an address before a 
Masonic assembly at Ipswich, which they had printed. He 
received, September 5, of the same year, a commission as 
chaplain of the Second Regiment in Essex county, which he 
held to April 1, 1829. At this date, he attended as trustee 
of the Ipswich Academy, and delivered a discourse before 
the audience, on physical, intellectual and moral education. 
During the year. Farmer’s New England Genealogical Reg¬ 
ister was published, to which Mr. Felt contributed many 
articles. He accepted, September 25, 1830, his election as 
member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Since, he 
has been alike kindly noticed by ten other similar societies 
in the United States. 

As Secretary of Trustees for promoting an institution 
which should aiford, on reduced terms, eminent domestic, 
literary and spiritual advantages to females, which finally 
resulted in the Mount Holyoke Seminary, and was chiefly 
suggested and kept before the public by Misses Z. P. Grant 


46 


and Mary Lyon, efficient co-workers,—Mr. Felt, on the 10th 
of September, 1831, commenced correspondence. With 
several modifications of plans for compassing so desirable a 
design, and continued exertions for it till its present location 
was obtained, an act of incorporation procured, and the pros¬ 
pect was encouraging for its success, he gave place, on the 
8th of October, 1835, to a successor more nearly located to 
its premises. 

In 1832, Mr. Felt closed the publication of the ( Annals 
of Salem/ containing 611 pages. Increasingly visited with 
weakness of lungs, and convincingly shown by his physician, 
that he must suspend his pulpit labors, he complied, Febru¬ 
ary 3, 1833, and on the 4th of next December his pastoral 
relation was dissolved. Thus he reluctantly laid aside the 
full callings of a profession, of which his own experience 
can verily testify, that, however subject to many and peculiar 
trials, yet, when heartily cherished and properly honored, it 
is the perennial spring of purer, more abundant and sub- 
limer joys, than those of all other human avocations, though 
rewarded with incalculable riches, blazoned with the most 
dazzling of earthly honors, and inscribed highest on the 
scroll of worldly fame. What is the chaff to the wheat ? as 
the revelation of eternal truth interrogates. 

In the course of the year last named, Mr. Felt issued the 
f History of Ipswich, Essex and Hamilton. 5 On the 15th of 
September, 1834, he presided as chairman of a Masonic Con¬ 
vention at Topsfield. The substance of their resolve was, 
that as the influences of Christianity promote the purposes 
of Masonry, and that, as the means of removing the party 
contentions, occasioned by resistance to the latter institution, 
its exhibitions, sessions and continuance should cease,—they 
would, in their own individual example, practice such a 
cessation. The succeeding October 31, he bid adieu to his 
residence, endeared by many advantages and attractions of 
horticulture, and moved with his family to Boston, where he 
has continued to reside. 


47 


In February of 1835, Mr. Felt contributed, by request of 
the editor, Ecclesiastical Statistics of Essex County to the 
pages of the American Quarterly Register. In 1836, he 
was of a committee for editing a volume of the Massachu¬ 
setts Historical Society’s Collections, and also for three suc¬ 
cessive volumes, and supplied a large portion of materials for 
one of them. During four courses of public lectures, sus¬ 
tained by the same Institution, he delivered one in each 
course. On the 25th of April, he was commissioned by 
Governor Everett to arrange the State archives. He was so 
occupied to April 5, 1839, when he was appointed to visit 
England, and look for duplicates of Provincial records and 
papers, the originals of which had been lost. On May 1, 
he desired a friend of New York city to engage a passage 
for himself and wife in the Great Western, on her next trip. 
But on the 9th, he ceased preparations, and resumed atten¬ 
tion to the archives, because assured that the British author¬ 
ities declined to have their offices entered by Americans, lest 
they might find evidence unfavorable to their pending claims 
relative to our North-Eastern boundary. 

On the 29th of December, 1836, Mr. Felt was chosen 
Librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society. But as 
this situation was a desirable one to Rev. T. M. Harris, D. D., 
and the former had enough else to do, he readily stepped 
aside for him, October 26, 1837. When the latter deceased, 
Mr. Felt succeeded him, April 28, 1842, and has thus 
remained to this day. So situated, he has derived multiplied 
pleasure in being of assistance to inquirers and authors while 
gathering their sheaves of knowledge for dispersion in vari¬ 
ous parts of the literary world. 

A proposal was made, June 24, 1837, for Mr. Felt to 
become Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society. 
Though an eligible offer, his engagements were a bar to its 
acceptance. Of this Society, he was subsequently chosen a 
member. August 22, 1838, by commission from the Gov¬ 
ernor, he attended an examination of the Massachusetts 


48 


beneficiaries with others, at the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in 
Hartford, Connecticut. According to request, he made a 
report of such service. He published, in 1839, his ‘ His¬ 
tory of Massachusetts Currency.’ On December 18 of this 
year, he was appointed Recording Secretary of the American 
Statistical Association, which trust he still holds. On 
March 27, of 1841, he had notice of having been elected a 
Member of the Northern Antiquarian Society in Europe. 
This year an article of his on the Fasts and Thanksgivings 
of New England, was printed in the volume of Colman’s 
Ecclesiastical Antiquities. 

In July, 1843, Mr. Felt was on a committee of three to 
examine the classes of Dartmouth College. On April 29, 
1845, he was informed of having been again commissioned 
by the Governor to visit England and examine the State 
manuscripts there for the legislative transactions of Massachu¬ 
setts, while under the government of the former, and obtain 
leave for having such of them copied, as might be deemed 
requisite. On the 16th of May, he sailed, accompanied by 
his wife, in the steamship Hibernia, for Liverpool. After 
two great perils, one of being crushed by surrounding ice on 
the 22d, and consumed by fire on the 26th, he reached his 
port of destination on the 31st at noon. Having successfully 
spent six weeks in reference to the object of his mission, he 
made an arrangement for transcripts to be made, as the 
authorities who sent him might decide. He then traveled 
with his wife, through France, Scotland and Ireland, and 
returned to Liverpool after a pleasant, impressive and instruc¬ 
tive journey. They embarked on board of the steamer 
Caledonia, August 19, and reached Boston September 3, 
under the protection of an ever watchful and gracious Provi¬ 
dence. Thy mercies, oh Lord, who can fully number and 
appreciate ! According to special request, twenty-six commu¬ 
nications, relative to this voyage, began to be published the 
next October 30, in the Boston Recorder. 

In the early part of 1846, Mr, Felt closed his work on 


49 


the Commonwealth Archives, after having been engaged in it 
from the spring of 1835, except a suspension of one year, 
by a change in the political character of the Legislature. 
While so occupied, he was not unfrequently called on to 
draw up statements of various topics, aside from his own 
assigned duty, which were interesting to him and useful to 
others. During the former of these two years, he was 
desired to succeed Rev. William Cogswell, D. D., as Presi¬ 
dent of the Gilmanton Theological Seminary. He had been 
invited to take charge of two other literary seminaries. In 
1847, he finished publishing ‘ Collections for the American 
Statistical Association/ 596 pages, on Towns, Population and 
Taxation. In 1848, he issued a f Memoir of Roger Conant ’ ; 

1849, closed the second edition of the f Annals of Salem 5 in 
two volumes, the first having 535, and the second, 663 pages; 

1850, had printed c Genealogical Items for Gloucester/ and 

1851, for Lynn, and the f Memoir of Hugh Peters.’ He 
was elected to the Board of the Boston Public Schools in 
1849, and continued two other terms, each a year long. 
Among the events of some excitement, was his motion, in 

1852, to prevent public attention to immoral characters by 
having them invited to the schools and honored with partial 
exhibitions. It was occasioned by a visit of this sort, which 
Lola Montez made, accompanied with a member of the 
school committee. 

Mr. Felt was chosen President of the New England Gen¬ 
ealogical and Historic Society, January 2, 1850, and sus¬ 
tained such a relation three years. Next April 27, he had 
notice of having been elected an Honorary Member of the 
Troy Lyceum. In July, he was of the Committee designated 
to examine the Willard Seminary, of the same city. His 
‘ Kidd Papers/ obtained in London, f Memoir of Francis 
Higginson/ ‘ Sketch of Abigail Brown/ and f Memorials of 
William S. Shaw/ in 1852, and, the succeeding year, his 
discussion of the question, f Who was the first Governor of 
7 


50 


Massachusetts/ and the ‘ Customs of New England/ Avere 
issued from the press. 

The remarks of Mr. Felt, for the Centennial Celebration of 
Danvers, June 16, 1852, were published with other produc¬ 
tions of the occasion. On October 20, of the same year, he 
was elected Secretary of the Congregational Library Associa¬ 
tion, and on the 25th of May, next year, agreeably to his 
own wish, they chose another for this office, and himself 
for their Librarian. The last and present years, he has been 
on the Committee for examining the classes of Harvard 
University in historical studies. The first volume of his 
‘ Ecclesiastical History of New England/ has been recently 
printed. 

Thus has your obedient servant endeavored to fill up the 
outlines, which you have marked out for his direction. He 
has withheld various items, which would pertinently fall 
within them, lest they might touch on the bounds necessary 
to be observed, and render tedious what has already been 
presented. To the stranger, unacquainted with the design 
of such a relation, it may seem as savoring too much of 
egotism. But considered as a yielding to the special request 
of surviving Class-mates, who wish to see the way by which 
each of them, whether living or dead, has been divinely 
brought along his earthly pilgrimage, the objection sinks 
from sight. It is like thinking loud, acceptable to the friend, 
though it may be construed as folly by the foe. Compliance 
of this kind has been rendered, under the deep impression 
that the Searcher of all hearts judgeth not as mortals judge ; 
that many traits and events of human life, which may be the 
first in their view, are the last in his ; and that the endless 
future of such being will depend, in its experience, on the 
motives with which it is or shall have been spent. Well for 
our race, that Omnipotent Perfection has so immutably 
arranged the moral universe, that we may rest with the 
fullest confidence in the rule which he has revealed, and 
cherish the strongest encouragement in the promises which 


51 


he has made. The whole earth should rejoice, because he 
reigneth. May this obligation ever find a happy response 
from all our purposes and actions. 


CHARLES FOX. 

Charles Fox was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on the 
sixth day of February, 1794. His father’s name was Eben- 
ezer, and the maiden name of his mother was Anna Downes. 
Mr. Ebenezer Fox was a patriot of the Revolution, and died 
in Roxbury, his native town, the 14th of December, 1843, 
aged eighty, in the full possession of his mental faculties. 
His wife survived him six years, and died at the age of 
eighty-eight, in February, 1849. 

Mr. Fox, being one of three sons, was prepared for Col¬ 
lege in Roxbury, by his oldest brother, Abraham. As his 
father’s means were ample, and as he liberally supplied his 
son with funds adequate to all his wants, he did nothing 
towards defraying his expenses during his collegiate life. In 
College he was not a hard student, and discovered more in¬ 
clination for literature than science ; devoting more time to 
general reading, than to the lessons of the day. He was not 
at all ambitious to be distinguished as a scholar; but having a 
retentive memory, he acquired a considerable amount of 
knowledge, though of rather a desultory and miscellaneous 
character. 

After he graduated, he entered the Medical College, and 
for two years was a pupil of Dr. Perkins, then Professor in 
that institution. Whether Charles was induced to remain a 
student at Hanover from a love of the profession, or a regard 
for a young lady, of beauty and accomplishments, who after¬ 
wards became his wife, was a subject of some discussion 
among his Class-mates. He was married to Mary Louisa 
Sparhawk, May 5, 1815, at Hanover, by the Rev. Roswell 



52 


Shurtleff, and afterwards resided on a farm, given to him by 
his father, on the banks of the Connecticut, in the town of 
Windsor, Vermont. On this pleasant spot he remained three 
years, and had two children born to him; the elder a 
daughter, the second a son. 

Mr. Fox’s wife was the daughter of Thomas Stearns Spar- 
hawk, who graduated at Dartmouth in the class of 1791 ; 
and grand-daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk, the 
first settled minister in Templeton, Massachusetts, where 
several of his descendants now reside. Mrs. Fox’s mother, 
Mary Kinsman, was the daughter of Col. Aaron Kinsman, 
of Concord, New Hampshire*. Col. Kinsman commanded 
a company at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was in the 
service of his country during the whole of the war. Tier 
father was a lawyer, and was settled in Bucksport, Maine, 
where he died in 1807. Mrs. Fox was married before she 
was eighteen years of age, and notwithstanding her youth, 
she has proved herself a model mother, “ bringing up her 
children in the way they should go,” and they have thus 
far shown themselves worthy of the moral and intellectual 
education they have received. 

The eldest child of these parents, Mary Anna, was born 
in Windsor, Vermont, April 18, 1816, and died in Shrews¬ 
bury, Massachusetts, where she resided a short time, for the 
benefit of her health, August 17, 1840. This young lady 
gave evidence of extraordinary intellectual powers at an 
early age. The productions of her pen adorned the pages 
of many periodicals of the day, and not one of the articles 
she contributed was ever rejected. She was an amiable and 
affectionate daughter, a consistent Christian, a member of the 
Pine street Church in Boston, and died with a well-grounded 
hope of a blessed immortality. After her death, her father 
published two small volumes of her writings, entitled, f The 
Only Son,’ and f Stories for the Young,’ which have had 
an extensive circulation.—The second child, Charles James, 
was born in Windsor, Vermont, January 8, 1818, and died 


53 


in Boston, August 8, 1835.—The third child, Ebenezer, 
was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, January 26, 1820, and 
died in May of the same year.—The fourth was William 
Stearns, born in Roxbury, April 4, 1821. This son was 
remarkable for his precocity, being able to read, understand¬ 
ing^, before he was four years old. He received a scientific 
education, and before he was twenty-one years of age, he 
was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the United States 
Navy, having passed the test of a critical examination, to 
prove his qualifications. He was attached to the ship Fal¬ 
mouth, and remained in the service to the time of his death, 
October 28, 1844. This melancholy event was thus noticed 
in the Boston Mercantile Journal: “ Lost, in Pensacola Bay, 
on the 28th ult., by the upsetting of the cutter of the 
Falmouth, William S. Fox, Professor of Mathematics in the 
United States Navy, aged twenty-three years, son of Charles 
Fox, of this city. Professor Fox was appointed at the age 
of twenty, and was attached to the Falmouth, on board of 
which ship he has been in active service ever since. In the 
death of this amiable young man, the navy has lost a valua¬ 
ble officer, society an estimable member, and his parents an 
affectionate son.” The death of this son was a sad bereave¬ 
ment to his parents.—The fifth child was Louisa, born in 
Roxbury, August 11, 1823, and died in May, 1824.—The 
sixth was a son, Richard Edward, born in Roxbury, Sep¬ 
tember 3, 1825, and died in November, of the same year.— 
The seventh, named Edward Augustus, was born in Rox¬ 
bury, October 11, 1826. Having qualified himself for a 
civil engineer, he went to Quincy, Illinois, aud was employed 
as such for some time; when he went to Hannibal, Missouri, 
and is now (1854) one of the corps of engineers engaged 
in the construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, 
in that State. In this work he has been employed about 
two years. Pie married, in 1853, Sarah Eldredge, of Mere- 
dosia, Illinois, very much to the satisfaction of his parents. 
He is a young man of much moral and intellectual worth, 


54 


and is highly respected and esteemed by all his acquaint¬ 
ance.—The eighth child, Frederick Emerson, was bom in 
Roxbury, January 11, 1829. This son early in life discov¬ 
ered a great taste for drawing, in the cultivation of which he 
was encouraged and furnished with facilities for its improve¬ 
ment. He served an apprenticeship in the office of one of 
the most skillful engravers in Boston. He has been in busi¬ 
ness for himself a few years, fully employed, and is consid¬ 
ered, by competent judges of the art, as one of the best 
engravers in Boston.—The ninth child, a daughter, named 
Lucia Louise, was born in Boston, July 4, 1831. After 
receiving an excellent education, and obtaining one of the 
medals awarded to the six best scholars annually in the 
Boston public schools, she taught a school in West Cam¬ 
bridge, for four years, to the great acceptance of her em¬ 
ployers ; and resigned her office in 1853, when she was 
married, and removed with her husband to the city of New 
York.—The tenth child, Charles James, was born in Boston, 
October 12, 1835. He was a member of the English High 
School in Boston for three years, the term allotted for 
the course of studies pursued in that excellent institution. 
While there he was among the best behaved and most capa¬ 
ble scholars, and was accordingly rewarded each year with a 
prize, and at the close of his course with a Franklin medal. 
Having fitted himself as a surveyor, he went to the West, 
was employed as an assistant ^engineer in Missouri, and is 
now in Illinois, holding the same trust.—The eleventh, a 
daughter, named Mary Ellen, was born in Boston, March 2, 
1837. She was educated in the Johnson School in Boston, 
and resides at home.—The twelfth, a son, Arthur George S., 
was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, June 16, 1841, 
where the family resided at that time. He is now a member 
of the Brimmer School in Boston, and holds a high rank in 
his class. 

After Mr. Fox had resided on his farm in Windsor, Ver¬ 
mont, about three years, he disposed of it on account of 


55 


some pecuniary losses which his father experienced in busi¬ 
ness, and removed to his native town. For the first time in 
his life he found himself thrown upon his own resources, 
and compelled to learn a lesson he had never been taught, 
self-reliance,—a want which he has been careful should 
make no defect in the education of his children. 

He commenced a private school for young ladies, which 
he continued for about a year, when he was appointed Prin¬ 
cipal of the Roxbury Grammar School, then considered as 
the highest in the grade of the schools in the town, and 
which is now called the Roxbury High School. He retained 
this office for five years, and being recommended by the 
Trustees of that institution, he was unanimously elected, by 
the School Committee of the city of Boston, to the office of 
Principal of the Boylston Grammar School. In this capacity 
he served the city for the period of eighteen years. The 
estimation in which his services were held by his scholars, 
may be seen from subsequent statements. Young ladies, 
who had been under his instruction, sent him a letter of 
October 17, 1840, with some presents, expressing them¬ 
selves highly satisfied with his faithfulness to them, while 
they sustained such a relation. So it was with gentlemen, 
who had been his pupils. In a communication to him, 
of June 16, 1842, after enumerating valuable articles as a 
donation to him, they express themselves as follows : “ Allow 
us to remark, that the affection and concern manifested for 
us when children, the careful training of the moral as well 
as the intellectual nature, and the constant adherence to 
strict, impartial justice, in the govermnent of your school, 
will cause us to hold you in grateful and enduring remem¬ 
brance.” 

Mr. Fox’s labors as a teacher were now drawing to a close. 
He had, for three or four years, been afflicted with the infirm¬ 
ity of a partial deafness, which, increasing, prevented him 
from discharging his duties to his own satisfaction, or that of 
his friends and patrons, and compelled him to relinquish his 


56 


office. From the Hon. Martin Brimmer, then Mayor of 
Boston, and ex officio Chairman of the School Committee, 
he received the following testimonial: 

City Hall, Oct. 3 , 1844 . 

This is to certify, that Mr. Charles Fox has been engaged for 
eighteen years in the faithful discharge of the duties of an instructor 
in the Public Schools, which situation he has been obliged to relin¬ 
quish in consequence of a defect in his hearing. 

M. Brimmer, Mayor. 

Of the productions of Mr. Fox’s pen, are many articles 
which have occasionally been published in the Boston jour¬ 
nals, upon political, moral and educational subjects. Among 
these were a series that appeared in the Mercantile Journal, 
in the year 1841, advocating the arrangement of school-rooms 
and a system of instruction adopted within a few years upon 
the recommendation of the present Superintendent of Public 
Schools, Mr. Bishop, although he was not then aware that 
any such plan had ever been previously offered to the notice 
of the citizens of Boston. Mr. Fox has published the 
Adventures of his father in the war of the Revolution, which 
he wrote in his father’s name, as they were related to him. 
This book has had an extensive circulation. He has likewise 
had engraved a portrait of Washington, which he found in 
the possession of a family in Boston, accompanied by docu¬ 
mentary evidence showing that, it is the best likeness of the 
Father of his country extant. He has in manuscript a work, 
which he intends to publish, entitled f Washington in 
Boston.’ 


AUGUSTUS GREELE. 

Augustus Greele was born in Wilton, New Hampshire, 
December 27, 1787. His father, Samuel Greele, was a 
farmer of good property, and one of the leading men of the 



57 


town. 1 His mother was of the Read family, of Amherst. 
In September, 1798, his father died, leaving five children. 
His mother, a woman of great strength of character and moral 
worth, managed the affairs of the family and the education 
of her children in the most judicious manner. His elder 
brother, Samuel, (now of Boston, and extensively known as 
a public man and popular speaker,) graduated at Harvard in 
1802, and was very little at home after the death of his 
father. At an early age, therefore, much of the care of the 
farm and the family business devolved on Augustus. His 
success in after life was, doubtless, very much owing to the 
habits of industry and self-reliance then formed, and to the 
responsibilities thus early incurred. Amidst all his duties 
and labors, he kept constantly in view a higher sphere of 
action. At New Ipswich Academy he qualified himself for 
teaching, and for several winters taught a school in his native 
town or in the vicinity. Having made considerable progress 
in classical studies, and still continuing then pursuit, at about 
the age of twenty-one he commenced the study of law in the 
office of Daniel Abbott, Esq., of Nashua. He soon perceived 
the importance of a more thorough preparatory education, and 
wisely determined to suspend his professional studies, and go 
through with a regular collegiate course. In 1809, he enter¬ 
ed the freshman class at Dartmouth College, at a mature age, 
and well prepared to take rank with the best. During his 
collegiate course he had the misfortune to lose his excellent 
mother, suffered much from ill health, and was, from one 
cause and another, absent more than usual from his class. 
Still he maintained a high standing as a scholar, and emi¬ 
nently enjoyed the esteem and respect of his Class-mates and 
of the faculty. 

Soon after graduating, he went to New York, and opened 
a private classical school for boys at Manhattanville, near the 
city, and soon enjoyed the patronage and friendship of many 


1 The whole of this communication is from Daniel Elliot, Esq. 
8 





58 


distinguished families of the city and vicinity. With some 
changes in his establishment, he continued in this business, 
with very considerable profit, till 1819, when he gave it up, 
and went into the city in pursuit of mercantile employment. 
Here he became interested in a commission paper warehouse, 
the first of the kind established in New York. Within 
the year, seeing a broad field open before him, he purchased 
the interest of his partner, and went on with the business 
alone, up to 1827, when his brother-in-law, D. Elliot, became 
connected with the concern. Mr. Greele continued to be 
engaged in this business, either as a principal or a special 
partner, till 1838, when he withdrew from all connection 
with business, having secured a very handsome competency. 

In 1820, he married Caroline Cornelia Lovett, in New 
York, who is still living. They had no children. In 1832- 
33, Mr. and Mrs. Greele spent about eighteen months in 
Europe, visiting the most, interesting points in Great Britain, 
Erance, Switzerland and Italy. Few American travelers have 
been better prepared to enjoy and appreciate what they saw, 
and none, probably, have made more diligent and profitable 
use of their time. He brought home a handsome and well- 
selected collection of paintings, and during the rest of his life 
took great interest in the progress of the fine arts in our 
country. He was one among the founders of the American 
Art Union. Mr. Greele was one of the early members 
of the First Unitarian Society in New York, and contin- ' 
ued attached to it under the administration of William 
Ware, Dr. Follen, and Mr. Bellows, to the time of his de¬ 
cease. In politics he was a decided whig, but had no taste 
for the turmoils of party strife, and would not suffer himself 
to be nominated for office. 

During the last four or five years of his life, he suffered 
much from disease, in various forms,—a sad drawback from 
the enjoyment of his otherwise happy circumstances. After 
a protracted confinement, he died on the 19th of August, 
1843, of softening of the brain, in the fifty-sixth year of his 
age. 


59 


BENJAMIN GREENLEAF, 

Benjamin Greenleaf was born September 25, 1786, at 
Haverhill, Massachusetts. His father’s name was Caleb, 
born August 16, 1759, at Newburyport, Massachusetts, and 
was the son of Timothy, who was the son of John, who was 
the son of Samuel, who was the son of Stephen, who was 
the son of Edmund, born in England in 1600, and who 
emigrated to Massachusetts in 1635. His mother’s name 
was Susanna, born in Methuen, Massachusetts, July 2, 1761, 
the youngest daughter of Abigail and William Emerson. 

He commenced his academical education at Atkinson, 
New Hampshire, September 9, 1805, under the instruction 
of the Hon. John Yose. From this period to September 26, 
1810, he spent about two years at the Academy, and most 
of the remaining time he was engaged in teaching schools in 
Plaistow, Atkinson, Haverhill, Bradford, and Marblehead. 
September 28, 1810, he entered the sophomore class at 
Dartmouth College. While in College, he calculated and 
projected the Transit of Venus, which is to happen Decem¬ 
ber 8, 1874; it being the first time this calculation was made 
at this College. 

Soon after he graduated, he took charge of the grammar 
school at Haverhill, which he kept till March 27, 1814; 
at which time he was obliged to leave, on account of a 
severe sickness. December 12, 1814, he became Preceptor 
of Bradford Academy, and commenced his labors with ten 
scholars, but in a few months he had more than thirty. He 
continued in this Institution until April 6, 1836. During 
the last year of his labors, there were more than one hun¬ 
dred and fifty pupils, that were members of the Academy. 
After he left the Academy, it was constituted a Female Sem¬ 
inary, and has so continued to the present time. 

From 1835 to 1840, he was engaged most of his time in 


60 


making a series of Arithmetics—the National, the Introduc¬ 
tion oi* Common School, and Mental Arithmetics. 

He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature during 
the years 1837, 1838, and 1839. In January, 1837, he 
introduced an order into the Legislature for a new Geological 
Survey of the State; also an order for a Natural History 
Survey. He was appointed chairman of a committee to 
whom these orders were referred. They made a favorable 
report on this subject, and the surveys have since been com¬ 
pleted. 

December 4, 1839, he took charge of the Bradford 
Teachers’ Seminary, which was extensively patronized, while 
under his care. This institution he relinquished in 1848. 
Since this date, he has re-written his Arithmetics, to which 
he has made many additions and improvements. He has 
prepared a Practical Treatise on Algebra, published in 1852, 
which has passed through many editions. He is now en¬ 
gaged in writing a System of Practical Surveying. Of his 
pupils, more than one hundred and fifty have been members 
of College; and of this number, more than forty have 
entered the Christian ministry. The whole number of his 
pupils is about three thousand. 

For many years past Mr. Greenleaf, in addition to his 
other labors, has made calculations for Almanacs for Boston, 
New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis, Halifax, California, and 
the Cherokee Nation. He took a very active part in estab¬ 
lishing the American Institute of Instruction, and for many 
years has been one of its Vice Presidents. He was one of 
the founders of the Essex County Teachers’ Association, 
being the first of the kind in New England, and for four 
years was President. For many years he has been President 
of the Board of Trustees of Bradford Academy; and, for 
forty years, he has been connected with the Institution, either 
as teacher or trustee, and for most of the time he has held 
both offices. 

He was married to Lucretia Kimball, the daughter of 


61 


Col. James Kimball, of Bradford, November 20, 1821, and 
who was born February 29, 1794. He has had nine chil¬ 
dren: Emily Ann, born September 13, 1822, and married to 
John B. Tewksbury, of West Newbury, November 23, 
1848.—Mary Abigail, born June 24, 1824, and who died in 
infancy.—Benjamin, born October 4, 1825, and who died 
September 16, ‘1829.—Betsey Payson, born March 19, 
1827, and who died in infancy.—Betsey Payson, born 
April 6, 1828, and who was married to Pev. S. C. Kendall, 
of Webster, October 19, 1854.—Benjamin, born July 10, 

1830, and who died in infancy.—Benjamin, born July 31, 

1831, and who died October 2, 1843.—James, born Decem¬ 
ber 31, 1832, and who died March 7, 1834.—Lydia Kim¬ 
ball, born May 15, 1836. Mr. Greenleaf has, therefore, but 
three children living,—Emily Ann, Betsey Payson, and 
Lydia Kimball. 

He has been a Justice of the Peace for more than twenty 
years, and has been a member of a Congregational Church 
twenty-two years. 

The preceding relation contains facts, which impart to it a 
substance, form and qualities of no ordinary kind. The 
subject of it has no cause to fall back from the approving 
application of our Saviour’s noted comparison, “ By their 
fruits ye shall know them.” It has eminently come up to 
“ life’s great end,” and well may be a “ lamp to his feet and 
a light to his path,” as he peacefully and usefully descends 
to the tomb. 


HUTCHINS HAPGOOD. 

Hutchins Hapgood was the second son of Hutchins and 
Elizabeth Hapgood, and was born at Petersham, Massachu¬ 
setts, September 2, 1792. His father died September 4, 
1837, aged 74, and his mother, January 11, 1835, aged 71. 
He pursued his studies under the Rev. Alpheus Harding, of 



62 


the New Salem Academy. He united with the freshman 
class, and made hopeful advancement with them. But in the 
winter vacation of the sophomore year, he was accidentally 
shot, in Petersham woods. By this event, his left arm was 
so badly fractured, that he never regained its full use. He 
had a long and painful confinement, and was not able to 
unite with his class until the autumn of 1811. Having 
graduated, he began to study law, November 6, 1814, with 
John Taylor, Esq., of Northampton, Massachusetts. Here 
he remained to the 18th of July, 1815, and then went to 
Cavendish, in the State of New York. When leaving his 
legal instructor, the latter remarked, that he “ parted with 
him with great reluctance.” In the last of the towns just 
mentioned, he finished his professional course. He spent 
some time in visiting various parts of the United States, 
to make himself better acquainted with their localities and 
resources. The question renewedly pressing itself on his 
mind, whether he should practice the profession for which 
he had prepared, or engage in mercantile pursuits, he de¬ 
cided to prefer the latter. He accordingly united with a 
firm in the city of New York. 

Among the impressions on his mind, which he noticed as 
very remarkable, from not being caused by any immediate 
previous associations of thought, or by any.natural inclination 
in him for superstition, was a vision of his, on the 28th of 
October, 1818, relative to the scene of the last Judgment. 
Giving his father an account of this event, he said, “ All I 
felt and all I saw, I cannot express. It was wonderful, and 
baffles description. I therefore will forbear, wishing that 
the God of wisdom may convey, through the past, instruction 
to my heart.” He addressed his other relatives on the 
same subject. To them, he said, “It was an appearance 
that I never, when awake, could have conceived. Hid I 
depend on my own merit for salvation, I should despair. 
But God is merciful, he has pointed out a way of happiness 
by the good Shepherd.” 


63 


After several years his health began to fail, and about 
1825 he was compelled to withdraw entirely from business. 
While in that city, it appears from a manuscript book, con¬ 
taining seventeen pieces of poetry, on different subjects, that 
he was in the habit of improving his leisure in such compo¬ 
sition. He sought his father’s house, greatly enfeebled with 
pulmonary complaints. 

A relative of his writes as follows: “ He was, as you 
know, never, married. But, for some years, he was engaged 
to a young lady of rare excellence. Letters written by her, 
after his death, to members of his family, furnish the most 
satisfactory evidence that he was not a stranger to the conso¬ 
lations of religion, and that, in his last days, he was sup¬ 
ported by a well-founded hope of future happiness.” 

After more than three years of suffering, he finished his 
earthly career, June 2, 1828, taught, that nothing short of 
God should hold the supreme reliance of mortals. 


LEVI HARTSHORN. 

Levi Hartshorn was son of Edward and Lucy (Elliot) 
Hartshorn, and had his birth at Amherst, New Hampshire, 
March 5, 1789. He was the oldest of four children, the 
youngest of whom, Jotham, is the only surviving one, and 
lives in the native place of his deceased brother. He entered 
the class in their second year. After taking his first degree 
with them, he studied divinity. 

He was settled over the First Church and Congregation 
of Gloucester, Massachusetts, October 18, 1815. Here 
he labored faithfully, usefully and acceptably. His health 
being enfeebled, he concluded to visit his parents, in the hope 
that it would be improved. Therefore, in the month of Sep¬ 
tember, he set out on his contemplated excursion, expecting 
to return and prosecute his work with greater vigor. ‘ But 



64 


the lot is cast into the lap, and the disposition thereof is of 
the Lord.’ Soon after reaching his destination, it was per¬ 
ceived that a typhus fever had fastened upon him, and threat¬ 
ened to prove mortal. The fear that he would sink under 
the attack, was realized in a few days. He expired Septem¬ 
ber 27, 1819. In this time of trial, when human delusions 
vanish, having lived the religion of Christ, he could well 
apply to himself the soul-sustaining encouragement of his 
Saviour, “ Fear not, thy sins are forgiven thee.” A notice 
of him in the Recorder pertinently and truly says : “ By the 
death of this amiable man, his church and society have sus¬ 
tained a great loss ; and to his afflicted consort and children, 
the loss is irreparable. In all the various duties appertaining 
to his pastoral office, he was indefatigable, and although his 
labor among the people of his charge has been short, we 
trust he has not labored in vain.” 


CHARLES JOHNSTON. 

Charles Johnston was born at Haverhill, New Hamp¬ 
shire, June 3, 1789. His preparatory studies were at the 
Academy of that town, under the tuition of Joseph Bell and 
Ephraim Kingsbury. He taught the same Institution two 
years, 1814 and 1815. He studied theology under Rev. 
Grant Powers, pastor of the South Parish, where he was 
a preceptor. He was licensed for the ministry at Hanover, 
February, 1817, by the Orange Congregational Association. 
Then he went to Litchfield, Connecticut, and pursued his 
studies under Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D., till he ardently 
engaged in the work of Home Missions. So consecrated to 
an occupation of the noblest kind, as to its results and rela¬ 
tions, however viewed by those who lose sight of eternal 
interests, he preached the riches of grace in this State and 
that of New York. His “labors were signally blessed in 



65 


the promotion of revivals of religion, imparting courage and 
strength to the churches, and the building up of waste 
places.” He joined the Presbytery of Onondaga, and was 
installed Pastor of the Congregation and Church in Otisco, 
September, 1821. In the same month, he married Hannah 
H. Sanford, daughter of Dr. Jared Sanford, of Ovid, and 
sister of the late Judge Lewis H. Sanford, of New York. 
Ever since this time, Mr. Johnston’s residence has been in 
central New York, but the most of it in Summer Hill, 
Cayuga county. Three of his latter years, he officiated as 
an agent of a benevolent society ; but, for the few last years, 
feeble health has required him to cease from the greater part 
of his ministerial callings and attend to agricultural concerns. 
Mr. Johnston has one son and two daughters living. He 
lost a son of high promise, who died August, 1844, a mem¬ 
ber of Dartmouth College. Thus with endeared ties to 
earth, and admonition to be ready for his departure, he still 
exhibits the firm purpose, which has long distinguished his 
life, to honor God as the great concern of his probation. 


EBENEZER SMITH KELLY. 

Ebenezer Smith Kelly was from New Hampton, New 
Hampshire, and was born February 1, 1794. He studied law, 
and about 1819, settled in Kittanning, Armstrong county, 
Pennsylvania. He was appointed by Governor Heister, Pro- 
thonotary of the Court of Common Pleas; Clerk of the 
Court of Oyer and Terminer and of the Quarter Sessions of 
the Peace ; Clerk of the Orphans’ Court; Recorder of Deeds 
and Register of Wills of that County. In 1825 he was 
elected State Senator, which office he held till his decease. 
He was “very highly respected and esteemed by all who 
knew him, and was among the foremost in his profession.” 
He died in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, while engaged 
9 



66 


in legislative duties, March 28, 1829, aged thirty-five 
years. 

He married, in 1821, Miss Nancy Davidson, daughter of 
Hugh Davidson, of Virginia. They had four children : only 
one, Mary, wife of William D. Robinson, Esq., of Lawrence- 
burgh, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, survives. The 
widow of Mr. Kelly married Hon. Samuel S. Harrison, and 
died in 1853, leaving a daughter by her last husband. The 
bright promise, which the College life of Mr. Kelly gave, 
was increasingly realized, till he was gathered to his fathers. 


JONATHAN KITTREDGE. 

Jonathan Kittredge was son of Doctor Jonathan and 
Apphia (Woodman) Kittredge, of Canterbury, New Hamp¬ 
shire. He was born July 17, 1793. 

After graduating, he read law in Albany, New York, and 
commenced practice in the metropolis of the same State, 
where he remained in it successfully till 1823, when he re¬ 
turned to New Hampshire. He subsequently renewed his 
professional labors in Canaan, and then in Lyme. In 1829, 
he married Julia Balch, of this town, by whom he has had 
nine children, seven of whom are living. He now resides 
in Canaan. In 1827, January 8, he delivered a Temperance 
Address in Lyme, which was subsequently printed, and 
widely circulated in the United States. It was the first 
address published, certainly for many years, and it gave an 
impetus to the temperance cause, which was felt throughout 
the civilized world. This address was republished in Eng¬ 
land, France and Germany, and was extensively circulated. 
Mr. Kittredge, in 1828, ’29 and ’30, addressed many public 
assemblies upon the subject. Two other addresses of his 
were issued from the press, by the friends of temperance. 
Mr, Kittredge was for several years agent of the New 



67 


Hampshire Temperance Society, and for a short time of a 
similar institution in Massachusetts. He finally relinquished 
his agency, and resumed the practice of law in Canaan, N. H. 
He has represented this town three years in the Legislature, 
has been Postmaster, and sustained several other offices. 

* Various have been the occasions, on which he has had suc¬ 
cessful opportunity to exhibit the natural strength and literary 
acquisitions of his mind. 


ALLEN LATHAM. 

His parents were Arthur Latham, from Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts, who died at his residence in Lyme, New 
Hampshire, November 25, 1843, aged 85, and Mary Post, 
from Hebron, Connecticut, who died where her husband 
did, February 25, 1836, aged 72. He had his birth at 
Lyme, July 1, 1792; attended school at South Bridge- 
water, Massachusetts, and fitted for College with Pev. Eden 
Burroughs, D. D., of East Hanover, New Hampshire. 
After graduating, he studied law with Judge Nahum 
Mitchell, of Bridgewater, and at the Law School in Litch¬ 
field, Connecticut. He soon put his natural spirit of enter¬ 
prise into exercise. Having been amply supplied with funds 
by his father to enjoy the best means of education, he went 
to Chilicothe, Ohio, with the purpose to improve the advan¬ 
tages thus laudably gained. He there opened an office for 
the law, and also for a general land agency. His business 
was increasingly successful, and wealth has flowed upon his 
hands. He has been honored with the trust of Surveyor 
General of the Virginia Military District, and of Senator for 
the State in which he has dwelt. 

He married Maria, the daughter of Col. Bichard C. 
Anderson, of Soldier’s Betreat, near Louisville, Kentucky, 
May, 1822. 



68 


He continues active in his business relations, without any 
appearance but that of a modest and benevolent gentleman. 
As probation hastens to a close, may he be divinely enabled 
to lay up incorruptible treasure to supply his immortal 
wants. 


BENJAMIN GREEN LEONARD. 

Benjamin Green Leonard was born March 8, 1793, at 
Newport, Rhode Island. His father was Captain Nathaniel 
Leonard, of the United States army, and, consequently, the 
childhood of the son was spent in garrison. His mother was 
Mary Leverett, connected with the Windsor family, of Ver¬ 
mont. His grandfather was Rev. Abiel Leonard, of the 
Eirst Congregational Church in Woodstock, Connecticut. It 
is remarkable that he, his father and grandfather, all three 
exhibiting uncommon talents in early life, became insane 
when about fifty years old. On entering College, he was 
from Niagara, New York ; and on leaving it, he went to 
Canandaigua, of the same State, and read law. He resided 
a short time at Batavia, and then moved to Chilicothe, Ohio, 
in 1819. He had little practice, at first, but afterwards was 
employed in many important cases. “ As a land lawyer, he 
was unrivalled in Ohio.” He frequently argued before the 
United States Supreme Court at Washington. The last time 
he was thus engaged, he broke down in the midst of the 
trial, came home mentally deranged, and was placed in an 
asylum. His friend Latham, and class-mate, who has fur¬ 
nished the preceding facts, speaks of Mr. Leonard as follows : 
“The leading characteristic of his mind was an extraordinary 
memory. I have known him multiply five decimals by any 
other five decimals and give the result correctly, and much 
quicker than I could do it with pen and paper. He would 
never allow a client to tell his story a- second time, for he 
always remembered it on being once told. In College, you 



69 


remember, he was among our best Greek and Latin schol¬ 
ars.” He continually made advancement in this respect. 
He also excelled in the French and German languages. 
“ But his great passion was for philosophy, astronomy and 
general literature. I have often known him lock his office 
and exclude all visitors and clients, whenever he obtained a 
new book that he wanted to read. He would knowingly 
lock out his most intimate friends, and refuse them admission, 
unless they threatened him. We used, in these circum¬ 
stances, to threaten to smoke him out. This would open 
the door, and afford us a pleasant interview. While in the 
asylum, he partially recovered and conversed sensibly. The 
last time I visited him, on leaving he came as far as the 
road, admired my horse, held the stirrup and told me to 
mount. I did so, and he said, as loud as he could. Go. 
The horse went upon the run, and Leonard almost as fast 
the other way. This was the last I saw of our friend 
B. G. L.” The subject of this relation soon died. As we 
look on so distinguished a mind, passing away in its ruins, we 
cannot suppress the thought,—thus vanish the glories of this 
world, while naught less than heavenly wisdom can fit the 
soul for immortal excellence. 


ALEXANDER LOVELL. 

Alexander Lovell was the son of Amos Lovell, a 
respectable and industrious farmer. He was born, and always 
resided, in Holden, Massachusetts. He died November 6, 
1815, at the age of sixty-two. His mother’s name, before her 
marriage, was Mary Ball, a native of Concord, Massachusetts. 
She died February 13, 1833, in the seventy-seventh year of 
her age. They both died on the same place where they had 
lived together many years, and reared a family of eight chil¬ 
dren, all of whom survived their parents several years. 

Mr. Lovell was born in Holden, Massachusetts, February 
10 



70 


14, 1787. He lived with his father and labored on the farm 
till his twentieth year. Up to this time his advantages were 
limited to the ordinary district school, which was usually kept 
but a few weeks in the year. His father wished to encourage 
his desire to pursue a course of study, but felt unable to 
afford the pecuniary assistance which seemed necessary. He 
however cheerfully relinquished all claim to his time &nd 
earnings daring the remainder of his minority, that he might 
engage in the enterprise, and do what he could by his own 
efforts. His first, step now was, to engage himself to a farmer 
for the summer. With his earnings during that season, he 
entered the Academy at New Salem, Massachusetts, in the 
autumn, where he pursued his studies, for the most part, 
while fitting for College. A few months of the time, how¬ 
ever, were spent in the family and under the instruction of 
Eev. Dr. Murdock, afterwards a Professor in the Theological 
Seminary at Andover. From the time he commenced fitting 
for College to the time he graduated, he spent a portion of 
each year in teaching. 

In the fall of 1813, he was admitted to the Theological 
Seminary at Andover, and continued his connection with that 
institution to the close of the regular course in 1816. Having 
received license to preach the gospel, he went to Vermont, 
with a view to spend the winter among the destitute churches 
in the western part of that State, and in the spring to engage 
in the service of the Home Missionary Society. A portion 
of the winter and spring was spent among the people of 
Vergennes, from whom he received a pressing invitation to 
settle among them. A careful examination of the subject 
brought the conviction to his mind, that it was his duty 
to relinquish his previously formed plan, and to accept the 
invitation. He did so, and was ordained as Pastor of the 
Congregational Church in Vergennes, October 22, 1817. 
He remained among that people, he trusts, with some degree 
of usefulness, till November, 1835. At this time he took a 
dismission to accept a call from the Church in Phillipston, 


71 


Massachusetts, and was installed in that place the sixteenth of 
the next month. His labors were continued here, till the 
spring of 1843, when he was laid aside by prostrating sick¬ 
ness, and was not able to perform the pulpit labors for a 
single Sabbath, for two years and a half, and only occasion¬ 
ally since that time. Though unable to perform pastoral 
duties, his connection with that church was not dissolved till 
April, 1844. After this he resided a few years in West- 
borough, Massachusetts, and then removed to Nashua, New 
Hampshire, where he is still residing. During this time he 
has occasionally supplied a vacant pulpit, as health would 
permit, and opportunity offered. 

About a year and a half from the time of his first settle¬ 
ment, June 8, 1819, he was married to Miss Clarinda Bush, 
daughter of Col. Jotham and Mrs. Mary Bush, of Boylston, 
Massachusetts. Her mother, whose name before her mar¬ 
riage was Mary Taylor, died at her residence in Boylston, 
November 17, 1836, aged seventy-five years. Col. Jotham 
Bush died at the same place, December 13, 1837, aged eighty 
years. Mr. Lovell has had but two children, a daughter and 
a son, both of whom are still living. 

Except a brief memoir of a friend, issued in pamphlet 
form, and a dedication sermon, his publications have been 
limited to pieces on various subjects, occasionally inserted in 
newspapers or other periodicals. Leaning on the arm of his 
Saviour, who has enabled him to five usefully, he looks for¬ 
ward to the rest of a heavenly mansion. 


CHARLES MARSH. 

The following notice is given of him by his class-mate, 
Elisha B. Perkins, Esq., of Marietta, Ohio : 

“ I have endeavored to review my recollections of our 
class-mate Marsh, and to get what information I could by 
correspondence with his friends ; but I cannot make as full a 



72 


report as the subject merits. His amiable character* and his 
high standing as a scholar* we all knew. There have been 
few young men who* during their College course* have 
exerted so great influence over their associates. Indeed* his 
influence was not only felt by those on whom it was directly 
exerted* but was continued long after his presence was with¬ 
drawn. Professor ShurtlefF* in speaking of him some time 
since to a friend* said that * his influence made a perma¬ 
nent and entire change throughout the College* raising the 
standard of scholarship by his example and spirit.’ He 
maintained the same pre-eminence among the young men in 
the Law School at Litchfield, that was universally yielded to 
him while in College. Had his life been spared* he would 
unquestionably have taken his place among the greatest men 
of our country. 

“ Charles Marsh, Jr.* was born at Woodstock* Vermont* 
October 17* 1790. His parents were* Charles Marsh* of 
Woodstock, born at Lebanon* Connecticut* and Anna Collins, 
of Litchfield. His father’s high and well-deserved reputa¬ 
tion as a lawyer, a legislator, and above all as a Christian* 
is well known. His grandparents were* Joseph Marsh* 
formerly Governor of Vermont* and Dolly Mason, a near 
relative of Jeremiah Mason* one of the greatest men of his 
day. He was thus allied to some of the most eminent and 
excellent men of our country* and he largely inherited their 
worth and talent. He was early destined by his friends to 
a liberal profession* but his health was not good* and it was 
thought unsafe for him to pursue his studies. He was* 
therefore* placed in the store of Gen. Curtis* in Windsor* 
and was several years employed there or elsewhere as a 
clerk. His health was so much improved* by the active 
duties in which he had been engaged, that he was able to 
resume his studies* and he was fitted for College at the 
Academy in Randolph* Vermont. After his graduation* he 
studied law for some time with his father* and then com¬ 
pleted his course at the celebrated Law School of Judge 


73 


Reeve, in Litchfield, Connecticut. He was soon after 
admitted to the Bar in the city of New York, and opened 
an office at Lansingburgh, in October, 1816, where he 
remained till compelled to relinquish business by the sick¬ 
ness of which he died. While at Litchfield he took veiy 
copious notes of the Lectures of Judges Reeve and Gould, 
and also reports of cases tried before the moot court 
attached to the Institution. I have a copy of this manu¬ 
script, making a large quarto volume, that would do honor 
to the skill and talents of a veteran reporter. 

“ He was married, at Lansingburgh, to Miss Mary Leonard, 
daughter of Timothy and Mary Leonard, of that city, but 
had no children. Early in the spring of 1817 he was 
attacked with a pulmonary disease, and in May he left Lan¬ 
singburgh, with his wife and a physician, to try the effect 
of travel, and of the western and southern climate, on his 
health. He was compelled, however, by the violence of his 
disease, to stop at a public house on the Ohio, not far from 
Louisville, where he died about the 1st of July. His re¬ 
mains were taken to New Albany, Indiana, and there buried. 
His class-mate. Experience P. Storrs, who was then residing 
in the neighborhood, was with him at the time of his death, 
and, with his other friends, did all that affection could do to 
make his last hours comfortable. Mr. Storrs prepared an 
obituary notice, from which I make the following extracts: 
‘ We brought the corpse down, through Louisville, to a 
little town just rising out of the woods below the falls, on 
this side of the Ohio, called New Albany, where it was 
buried. It will be most melancholy intelligence to all who 
knew him, especially to his class-mates, and more especially 
to his brothers , who knew his excellences. Ah! we loved 
him as a brother / He had no superior while in College, 
and had he lived, would undoubtedly have risen to the first 
grade in his profession. He possessed great fondness, and a 
taste highly cultivated, for classical literature, as well as a 
mind peculiarly well adapted to legal pursuits. It is not 


74 


common for any College to be graced with an undergraduate 
possessed of such talents for extemporaneous performances. 
He was one of those primary geniuses that give both direc¬ 
tion and momentum to those about them ; not indeed by the 
low arts of political quackery, but by the intrinsic merits 
of his talents and character.’ Our friend made no profession 
of religion, but for some time before his death he had been 
deeply interested in the subject, and died rejoicing in the 
hope of a Christian. He was brought up in the strictest 
principles of the old Puritan school of theology, and all 
the earlier influences, by which his character and principles 
were formed, were of the purest and loveliest kind, and 
accompanied, as they were, by the earnest and fervent prayers 
of devotedly pious parents and friends, they could hardly 
fail of being blessed to his spiritual good. He published 
nothing, and I believe held no office. In politics, he was a 
federalist, of the Washington school. In person, he was tall 
and slender. As well as I can recollect, he was about six 
feet in height, and weighed about one hundred and forty 
pounds. 

“ I regret that it is not in my power to do better justice to 
our departed friend. As his relative and f chum,’ I was more 
intimate with him than others ; but we all admired him for 
his talents and acquirements, and loved him for his amiable¬ 
ness and virtues.” 


JOHN NICHOLS. 

His parents were Daniel and Mary (Dinsmore) Nichols, 
and he was born at Antrim, New Hampshire, June 20, 
1790. His father was a respectable farmer and magistrate, 
and died of the spotted fever, February, 1812. He was 
fitted for College by Rev. John M. Whiton, his pastor, and 
Hon. John Yose, of Atkinson, and joined the class in their 
sophomore year. He entered the Theological Institution at 



75 


Andover, October, 18 lo, and finished his course there in 
1816. In July of this year, he wrote as follows to Mr. 
Whiton : “ It is now about two years since I commenced 
the examination of the subject of missions to the heathen, 
with reference to my personally engaging in the great work. 
No Christian can doubt, for a moment, that the religion of 
the gospel is to be the religion of the world. A large pro¬ 
portion of our number have reasons for declining the service. 
Who will go 1 This question has come home to my own 
bosom. My inquiries and my prayers have resulted in a 
settled conviction, that it is my duty, divine Providence per¬ 
mitting, to make known to those, who dwell in pagan dark¬ 
ness, the unsearchable riches of Christ. I would leave 
myself in his hands, and be at his disposal. God forbid that 
I should think of meriting salvation by a pilgrimage to a 
land of Pagan darkness. No ; 

‘ The blood of Christ shall still remain, 

* Sufficient and alone.’ ” 

No one of his acquaintances in College would doubt, for 
a moment, but that his ability to acquire learning, his laud ¬ 
able progress in it, and his exemplary Christian deportment, 
were in harmony with so noble a consecration of himself to 
the missionary cause. 

The greater part of the year, after leaving the Andover 
Institution, Mr. Nichols spent, under a commission of the 
Board, in stirring up the churches of New Hampshire to the 
calls of Foreign Missions. His labors did much towards 
inducing Christians in that State to adopt their present sys¬ 
tematic contributions for such an object, ever worthy of their 
prayers, their high estimation, and their liberal donations. 
Before embarking for the distant land of his anticipated trials 
and labors, he visited the town of his birth, to converse with 
those whom he knew and loved. He cjjd all in his power 
for the future welfare of his relatives, and especially of his 
widowed mother, who had experienced the faithful assistance 


76 


and the consoling attentions of his filial affection. While 
hearts almost broke at the thoughts of separation, they were 
comforted with the belief, that it was a sacrifice demanded 
by a higher and more sacred obligation than commonly exists. 

The ordination of Mr. Nichols was at Park Street Church, 
Boston, September 3, 1817 ; and his marriage with Elizabeth 
Shaw, of Upper Beverly, Massachusetts, was on the 31st of 
the same month. On the morning of October 5, he and his 
wife sailed from Charlestown for Bombay, in company with 
Mr. and Mrs. Graves. Prior to his embarkation, he intended 
to visit his native place once more, but his other duties pre¬ 
vented his purpose. On this account, he sent a farewell 
discourse, from 1 Corinthians xv. 58, to his pastor, who read 
it from the pulpit, at the earnest request of his parishioners. 
The pertinency of the Scripture passage, the relations sus¬ 
tained by the adviser to the hearers, the impression that they 
were to see his face no more in the land of the living, and 
that in judgment they must answer for the use of the parting 
counsel he gave them, must have rendered the occasion 
deeply interesting, solemn and impressive. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols arrived at Bombay, February 23, 
1818. He immediately entered on the study of the Mah- 
ratta language. Towards the close of October, he was pros¬ 
trated by a bilious attack, and his life despaired of. But 
divine goodness raised him up and enabled him to recom¬ 
mence his labors. Soon after his restoration he opened a 
school at Tannah, on the Island of Salsette, and another at 
Cullian, with encouraging prospects. In his Journal of a 
Tour, we have the succeeding extract, beginning September 
24, 1819: “ After addressing the villagers, we retired to 
rest in an open veranda. The Hindoos have neither chairs, 
tables, nor beds. Of course, whoever travels among them, 
must sit on the ground and sleep on the ground. Our jour¬ 
neying from village to village was through deep mud, long 
grass, and water sometimes up to the middle. To wear 
shoes and stockings was out of the question; though our 


77 


feet suffered much from the stones and gravel. With bare 
feet we traveled over a region inhabited by tigers, and were 
in continual danger from serpents, which might be concealed 
in the long grass. On the evening of the 25th, we arrived 
at a village where we spent a Sabbath. In the evening, 
before we had retired to rest, while reclining on a mat in an 
open veranda, I was roused by a serpent crawling over my 
feet; and before I could speak, it was under the feet of 
brother Graves. Through mercy we were not bitten. The 
serpent was killed before the door. There is a species of 
serpent very common here, whose bite causes death in five 
or ten minutes, and for which the natives know no remedy.” 

About May 20, 1820, Mr. Nichols, his wife and their 
little son, were taken with an intermittent fever. The two 
last recovered in three weeks, but Mr. Nichols was confined 
for sixty days, during the hottest portion of the year. In 
1821, he wrote to Mr. Whiton, while called to behold the 
desolations of spasmodic cholera: “ It is one of the most 
awful diseases with which a righteous God ever visited our 
sinful race, and was entirely unknown till about four years 
ago. I have witnessed its awful ravages in Tannah and 
Bombay; and have been much with the sick and the dying. 
This people generally believe it to be not a proper disease, 
but a destroying demon. I have abundant opportunity to 
put in practice the little stock of medical knowledge I 
acquired in America, and have prescribed for the sick in 
hundreds of instances. So ignorant of the healing art are 
these people, that the administration of the simple but pow¬ 
erful medicines, (emetics and cathartics,) produces such 
speedy and manifest relief as truly astonishes them.” On 
the 11th of May, 1822, the child of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols 
was taken from them, and they left to mourn its death, 
though with consolations that God ordered all things in 
righteousness. 

As a further specimen of perils and hardships, which his 
office called him to encounter, Mr. Nichols expresses himself 


11 


78 


as follows : “ Since I have been in India, I have slept many 
nights on the ground, without anything about me but a loose 
cotton gown ; and in my tours to the continent, to distribute 
books and visit schools, I have slept many times all night 
on the boards of an open boat, without any t bed or covering. 
In all the country, among the natives, high and low, you 
will scarcely meet with a chair, a table or a bed.” Thus 
enduring hardness as a good soldier of Christ, Mr. Nichols 
still cherished pleasant memories of home, and kindly affec¬ 
tions for kindred and acquaintances in his native land. To 
a friend he wrote in the subsequent language : “ Need I 
tell you, that my early friends are my dear friends, and that 
a recollection of them is entwined with every fibre of my 
heart ? The rocks and hills of Antrim, are a scene on 
which imagination fondly lingers and memory drops her 
silent tear. Oh may that be a spot highly favored of 
Heaven, when this mortal body of mine shall be mouldering 
in the sands of India. Satisfied with the providence of God 
in calling me far away from my native land, I have not the 
remotest idea of ever returning there. It is worth a thou¬ 
sand lives, a thousand times more precious than mine, to 
make known for these heathen what a Saviour has done for 
a sinful world.” Such language, in the estimation of him 
who looks no higher than human wisdom, is cant, is folly. 
But to every mind, illumined by the light of inspiration and 
sanctified by the Spirit of grace, it accords with the dictates 
of divine knowledge, the necessities of our apostate race, 
and the infinite riches of Christ’s redemption. 

In 1824, the last year of his earthly pilgrimage, Mr. 
Nichols received the sad tidings of a beloved sister’s decease. 
Thus he w r as a legal claimant to a portion of the property 
which she left. He forwarded to a friend a power of attor¬ 
ney to make distribution of it in the succeeding manner. 
To assign to his mother what was needful for her comfort; 
to lay out a part for the purchase of tracts for the benefit 
of youth in his native town ; and to send the residue, if any, 


79 


to his wife’s father, subject to his future disposal. Though 
attending to duty in this respect, as it called upon him from 
amid the changes and uncertainties of probation, he knew 
not that it would be his last act with reference to so judicious 
an arrangement. 

Late in the autumn, Mr. Nichols began a tour in Southern 
Konkan, for the purpose of visiting, and modifying to some 
extent, the schools established there. He had not proceeded 
sixteen miles from Bombay, when he was taken sick of a 
fever. Informed that he was dangerously ill, Mrs. Nichols, 
accompanied by a friend, hastened, in a covered boat, to the 
place of his confinement, and had him brought back to 
Bombay. His return was on the 9th of December, ten days 
after he was attacked by the disease. Then he was speech¬ 
less and, for the most part, insensible. He so continued 
till the middle of the succeeding night, being the 10th of 
December, 1824, when he fell asleep, and rested from the 
trials and labors of his ministry. The services of the funeral 
were performed the next day in the chapel, to which many 
of the natives resorted. 

Mr. Nichols had three children, two of whom died prior 
to his decease, and the other eight months afterwards. His 
widow was married, October 19, 1826, to Rev. Joseph 
Knight, Church missionary at Nellore, in Ceylon. Here she 
departed this life, September 5, 1837, and left a son, Henry 
by her second husband, who became a clergyman. Thus 
she closed her earthly course, after a long and well-earned 
reputation of an exemplary Christian, and a faithful servant 
in the missionary vineyard of her Lord and Saviour. 

The Memoirs of American Missionaries, whence the 
most of the preceding facts have been taken, speak of 
Mr. Nichols as follows : He “ was nearly seven years among 
the heathen, engaged in various missionary labors; but 

* She was born November 17, 1793, was a pupil of Benjamin Greenleaf, 
Esq., of Bradford, and was eminently distinguished for her literary attain¬ 
ments and piety. 





80 


especially, for the greater part of the time, in preaching the 
gospel to them in their vernacular tongue. He was a man 
of an excellent spirit, mild, gentle, and yet firm in the pur¬ 
suit of duty. He longed for the salvation of the heathen, 
and prayed earnestly and continually for so great a blessing. 
To his brethren, he was a judicious and faithful counsellor, 
and to the mission, a warm and devoted friend.” “I have 
long thought,” observes Mr. Whiton, “that his Christian 
character presented traits of uncommon excellence. If ever 
I knew a man, who ruled his own spirit and was master of 
himself, he was that man. It was manifest, that the fear and 
love of God were the governing principles of his conduct.” 

Thus truth deservedly speaks of our departed brother. 
Better, infinitely better, to be as he, having fought the good 
fight of faith to extend the triumphs of Christ’s kingdom 
over the hearts of his fallen race and the dominion of the 
prince of darkness, than the mightiest conquerors, who have 
not subjected their souls to the rule of Emmanuel, nor con¬ 
tended for the extension of his gospel. Verily believing 
and well doing for the highest welfare of man and the honor 
of God, are the imperishable crown, whose glories will ever 
abound and shed light on the successive events and ages of 
eternity. 


TIMOTHY PARKHURST. 

Timothy Parkhurst was the son of Jonathan and Rachel 
(Colburn) Parkhurst. His father died at Wilton, New 
Hampshire, January, 1819, aged sixty-six, and his mother, 
August, 1826, aged seventy-one. He was born in the same 
place, November 27, 1793. He attended the common 
schools of the town till his fifteenth year ; then he com¬ 
menced preparation for College, under Rev. Thomas Beede, 
and continued it till joining his class in their freshman year. 



81 

He taught school during his College course. An extract 
from his reply, follows : 

“ After graduating, I commenced the study of medicine 
at Amherst, in this State, and continued to reside there three 
years. I then commenced the practice of medicine in my 
native town, and have continued since to remain in the same 
place. 

“ As to offices , I have never been much of a public charac¬ 
ter. I have been Postmaster some seven years, have a Jus¬ 
tice’s commission for the county of Hillsborough, and have 
been Town Clerk of Wilton twenty-seven years. 

“ I was married May 28, 1818, to Betsy Abbot, of Wil¬ 
ton, daughter of William Abbot, Esq., whose wife’s name 
was Phebe Chandler. My wife died in March, 1828. I 
married, a second time, Naomi Sawyer, of Sharon. I have 
had five children, by both marriages, three daughters and 
two sons, all now living. My life has been one of no re¬ 
markable incidents, although I have been busily engaged in 
the cares and pursuits of life, without making any great noise 
in the world.” 

Thus speaks one, who was a pattern of equanimity to his 
class-mates, and who steadily and honestly attended to his 
own business, without unnecessarily troubling himself with 
others’ concerns. 


ELISHA BACKUS PERKINS. 

I cannot perhaps better comply with the resolutions 
adopted by those of our Class, who met in Hanover at the 
last commencement, than to follow the inquiries of the Cir¬ 
cular of July 15, 1853. It is always a difficult matter to 
form a just estimate of one’s own character and doings ; and 
to a man of much sensitiveness or delicacy of feeling, it is 
rather an unpleasant task to be required to communicate that 



82 


opinion to others. I am not, however, disposed to allow my 
own feelings to stand unnecessarily in the way of anything 
that can afford gratification to my dear old class-mates, and 
especially since the feelings of attachment I have ever cher¬ 
ished towards them, have been so pleasantly revived and 
strengthened by our last delightful meeting. 

My parents were Dr. Elisha Perkins, son of Dr. Elisha 
Perkins, of Plainfield, Connecticut, born July 18, 1763, and 
died in Baltimore, February 15, 1840; and Eunice Backus, 
daughter of Maj. Andrew Backus, of Plainfield, born June 
14, 1770, and died at Canterbury, July 9, 1792. 

I was born at Canterbuiy, Connecticut, June 19, 1792. 
My present residence is Marietta, Washington county, Ohio. 
I was married June 27, 1822, to Miss Emily Pope, daughter 
of Joseph and Elizabeth Pope, born in Boston, May 14, 
1796. She is still living. I have had two children, both 
born in Pomfret, Connecticut. 1st, Elisha Douglas, March 
23, 1823, and married April 11, 1848, to Miss Harriet Eliza 
Hildreth, daughter of Dr. Samuel P. and Mrs. Rhoda Maria 
Hildreth, of Marietta, Ohio, and died at Sacramento, Cali¬ 
fornia, December 17, 1852; 2d, Mary Duick, born Feb¬ 
ruary 1, 1825, married November 21, 1849, to Joseph P. 
Shaw, of Cleaveland, Ohio, son of William and Eliza 
DeWolfe Shaw, and died in Marietta, August 27, 1853, soon 
after my return from Hanover. 

I commenced business as a lawyer, at Pomfret, Connecti¬ 
cut, in August, 1816. In 1828, my health having failed, I 
moved to Baltimore, and went into the drug business with 
my father. My health still continuing feeble, I removed, at 
the close of 1830, to Tallahassee, Florida, and opened a 
drug store there. While residing in Tallahassee, I was 
licensed by the Medical Board to practice physic, but was 
never actively engaged in that profession, except to a gratui¬ 
tous business among the poor. In 1836, my health having 
been restored, and feeling anxious to withdraw my children 
from the influences of slavery, I sold my establishment, and 


83 


after nearly two years spent in examining different parts of 
the West, I came to Marietta, where I had friends, and 
purchased a house and a few acres of land, and was not 
employed in any active business till 1845, when I opened a 
drug store in Marietta, in which I am now engaged. 

I have all my life felt a deep interest in the cause of 
education, and have generally held some office connected 
with our schools and literary institutions; but I have never 
allowed myself to be made a candidate for any political office, 
though I have held other situations of trust and responsi¬ 
bility. While residing in Florida, I was offered the appoint¬ 
ment of Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, 
which I declined, but accepted the office of Commissioner of 
Public Grounds and Buildings, and was one of the Trustees 
appointed under the grant by Congress, of two townships in 
South Florida, to Mr. Perrine and his associates, for the 
purpose of locating and establishing a Garden, for the intro¬ 
duction into this country of tropical and other foreign plants. 
These offices, involving no political partisanship, and being 
in their duties agreeable to my tastes and feelings, I held till 
I left the State. Under the grant to Mr. Perrine and his 
associates, I explored a large part of Southern Florida, but 
the selection of the townships was prevented by the occur¬ 
rence of the Seminole war ; and since the death of Mr. Per¬ 
rine, who was killed at Indian Key by the Indians, the 
project has been abandoned. 

I have been a frequent contributor to the literary, relig¬ 
ious, agricultural and temperance papers and journals, and 
have delivered Addresses on Peace, Temperance, Education, 
&c., which have been published. One of the Peace Ad¬ 
dresses has been republished two or three times and exten¬ 
sively circulated. I have written or compiled nothing of 
more permanent character. 

I united with the Associate Beformed Church in Balti¬ 
more, under the care of the Bev. Dr. I. M. Duncan, in the 
summer of 1830, and am now a member of the First 


84 


Congregational Church of Marietta. My earliest denomina¬ 
tional attachments were to the Moravians, with whom I was 
placed in my boyhood for an education, and my feelings still 
incline most strongly to them; but among our evangelical 
churches I have no very decided preferences. I can cheer¬ 
fully hold fellowship with all, of any name, “ who love our 
Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.” 

I was born and bred a federalist, and since the dissolution 
of that party I have been a whig, but never a very zealous 
partisan. 

My height is five feet seven and a half inches. My usual 
weight is from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred 
and thirty pounds. I have never, in health, fallen below one 
hundred and sixteen, nor gone above one hundred and thirty- 
eight pounds. 

Soon after I was graduated, I entered the office of the 
Hon. Sylvanus Backus, of Pomfret, Connecticut; and after 
the usual course of study with him and with the Hon. 
Calvin Goddard, of Norwich, I was admitted to the Bar of 
Windham county, in August, 1816, and formed a partner¬ 
ship with Mr. Backus which was terminated by his death, in 
February, 1817. I was soon engaged in a large and lucra¬ 
tive business, in which I continued till the autumn of 1828, 
when I was compelled to abandon the profession by a pul¬ 
monary affection, which made it necessary for me to change 
my business and seek a milder climate. I was ambitious of 
distinction in my profession, but, not possessing a strong 
constitution, I broke down under the effort. The disap¬ 
pointment was very severe ; but I have had abundant cause 
since to bless God for this, as well as for every other trial 
he has called me to bear. The failure of my prospects of 
worldly distinction, led me to feel the vanity of all earthly 
hopes, and the importance of securing a better and more 
enduring portion ; and I humbly trust I have not sought it 
in vain. Much of my time has been devoted to efforts, 
feeble in themselves, and yet not altogether without God’s 


85 


blessing on them, to do good to others. There is no condi¬ 
tion nor employment in this life without anxiety and care; 
but, after enjoying probably much more than an average 
portion of this world’s favor and prosperity, I know that 
nothing but the hopes and promises of the gospel, much 
as some may affect to despise them, can satisfy the soul. 
Without them, the present is cheerless, and the future is 
involved in darkness and despair. By the deaths of our 
dear children, my wife and I are left alone in our old age, 
with none to cheer our declining years, or weep over our 
graves. Yet we are far from being unhappy. We know 
these trying events have been ordered by a kind Father, who 
never willingly afflicts nor grieves ; and we trust that the 
loved ones, who have been taken from our embraces here, 
have only arrived a little before us at the happy home, 
where we hope to meet again and dwell together forever. 
Oh, my brother, what a cheering thought it would be to feel 
assured that, in those blessed abodes, we shall meet all our 
dear class-mates whom we have loved so well here. It is a 
thought I have dwelt much upon since our recent delightful 
meeting at Hanover. Let us earnestly plead for such a 
blessing, and perhaps He, who delights in the prayers of 
his people, may grant it to our petitions. 


PETER ROBINSON. 

Peter Robinson was the son of General Robinson, of 
Pembroke, New Hampshire, and was born November 15, 
1791. He prepared for College at Atkinson, of the same 
State, under the instruction of Hon. John Yose. He entered 
freshman, and taught school in the winter of his collegiate 
course. From his class : mate, Bond, we have the subsequent 
facts: 

“In 1816, he settled in Binghamton, Broome county, 
New York, as teacher in an Academy, and he resided there 

12 



86 


until his decease. He was a lawyer by profession, but 
devoted considerable attention to agriculture. He was a 
Justice of the Peace about fifteen years ; was a member of 
the New York Assembly five or six years, and in 1829 was 
elected Speaker of that body. His speeches, we are told, 
were of a high order, and were published in the current 
debates of the day. Afflicted with a complication of dis¬ 
eases, he died of congestion of the brain, in 1841, aged fifty, 
unmarried.” 

Thus departed one, remarkable for his talents and scholar¬ 
ship. It is regretted that our materials for a notice of him 
are so scanty, though indicative of the eminent stand, for 
which intellect and knowledge amply qualified him. He 
learned that, while careful for the wisdom of earth, we 
should be far more so for the wisdom of heaven. 


DAVID SMITH. 

From him we have the succeeding account: 

John Smith and Elizabeth Campbell, of the county of 
Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, were my parents. 
My father served six years in the Revolutionary war; was 
in nearly all the battles at the capture of Burgoyne, and was 
wounded in the head by a musket-ball, at King’s Bridge. 
The ball remained there till his death. I was born at 
Francestown, New Hampshire, on the 2d day of October, 
1785. My present residence is Wheeling, Virginia, and 
there is my post-office address. 

I am not married now. On the 17th of August, 1814, 
I was married to Miss Rhoda Mitchell, then of Boston, who 
died on the 19th of August, 1819. Her parents were James 
Mitchell and Mary Leech, of Haverhill, Massachusetts. 
She was born about six weeks before I was. This most 
excellent of all persons whom I ever knew, bare Elizabeth, 
Mary and John. In May, 1820,1 married Harriett Mitchell, 



87 


sister to my first wife. She was born on the 20th of Decem¬ 
ber, 1802, and died the 11th of August, 1833, leaving three 
children, viz., Rhoda, James and David. My connubial state 
ended with her life. I resided in Columbus, Ohio, from 
1814 till 1836 ; and, though absent from there much of the 
time since then, am still a citizen of that place. 

My daughter Elizabeth married Gen. Joseph M’Cormick, 
now of Cincinnati. Mary married Mr. Richard Hubbell, of 
Wheeling. John married Miss Matilda Patterson, of West 
Union, Ohio. Rhoda married Mr. John W. Gill, of Wheel¬ 
ing. James married Miss Martha Jeremiah, of Cincinnati. 
David married Miss Martha Gonell, of Wheeling. They 
now reside at Louisville, Kentucky. Elizabeth, my oldest, 
is thirty-eight years of age, and David, my youngest, is 
twenty-four years. Mary Hubbell has five children living. 
All the others have from one to four. 

I was admitted to the Bar, but did not practice. My 
business, from 1816 to 1836, was printing. During this time 
I owned and issued a newspaper, called the f Ohio Monitor ’; 
nor am I author of any literature except newspaper fugitive 
essays ; and those are so evanescent, that few of the sheets 
could now be found which contained them. 

I was six years a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 
appointed by the General Assembly ; three years the State 
Printer, by the same mode of appointment; was twice 
elected to the General Assembly, to represent Franklin 
county ; was a Clerk in the General Post Office from 1836 to 
1845, at a salary of $1,400; was appointed by Amos Ken¬ 
dall and dismissed by Cave Johnson. 

I have been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
since 1831. 

In politics, democratic; took the Adams phase thereof in 
1824, the Jackson phase in 1828, and the abolition phase 
in 1845, from which I think that I shall never depart. 
I entertain no thought so abhorrent to me as African 
slavery! On account of it, I was made a yellow statesman 


88 


in 1823 at home, and ejected from place at Washington city- 
in 1845. 

My height is five feet seven inches; my weight is one 
hundred and sixty-two pounds. I am disabled from ordinary 
exercise by lameness in both my lower limbs ; belong to no 
secret society, and to no public one, except the church; 
enjoy good health, and as much happiness as an infirm celi¬ 
bate can expect. 

The above is a very meagre sketch of a small pattern. If 
my worthy brethren think well enough of it not to leave my 
name blank, I shall thank them. I doubt not that their 
united biographies will be interesting. And excuse me if I 
say, jokingly, that if we do not preserve our own histories, 
our deeds will not inspire any Homer to rhyme them. 


EXPERIENCE PORTER STORRS. 

His parents were Constant and Lucinda Storrs. Of their 
eight children, he was the sixth son, and was born August 
21, 1794, at Lebanon, New Hampshire. He is survived by 
only two members of this family, a brother Dan, aged sixty- 
six, residing in the same town, and another, the youngest, 
aged fifty-eight, settled in the ministry at Brooklyn, New 
York. He began his studies under Rev. Eden Burroughs, 
of East Hanover, and closed them with Professor Shurtleff, 
of Hanover. His complexion was light, his height about 
five feet, and his weight one hundred and forty pounds. 
After graduating, he read law with his brother Constant, of 
Argyle, New York, and was admitted to the Bar, October, 
1816. Then he went to Indiana, and practiced his profession 
in the town of Paoli. With the deserved reputation of a 
distinguished scholar in his class, and of fixed habits to im¬ 
prove his strong intellectual powers, his prospect of eminence 



89 


in life was clear and encouraging. But human anticipations 
are often crossed by divine wisdom. Only two years had 
passed from his entering the arena of legal competition, when 
ill health required him to seek the attentions and remedies of 
his parental mansion. Here he struggled with a lingering 
consumption, which proved his end, December IT, 1829, at 
the age of thirty-five years. A brother, who witnessed his 
long sickness, and helped to alleviate the trials of his advance¬ 
ment to the bourne of probation, remarks of him as follows : 
“ He bore his lingering illness with Christian fortitude and 
resignation, trusting in the great Redeemer for acceptance 
with God. He never made a public profession of religion, 
but often regretted that he had not.” Consoling indeed is 
the thought to his friends, that, in the day of his adversity, 
he leaned not on the broken staff of earth, but applied to the 
only remedy of salvation, which could take away the sting of 
death from him and them, and prepare his spirit to shine 
among the brighter lights of immortality. 


JOSEPH WARDWELL. 

His parents were Jeremiah and Mary Wardwell. He was 
one of ten children, six sons and four daughters. His birth 
was July 3, 1T88. When entering College, he was of Salis¬ 
bury, New Hampshire. During the winters he was there, 
he instructed schools. After graduating, he continued this 
employment in Boston, Massachusetts, where his prospect of 
success was better than usual. But his strength and health 
began to falter under long and persevering application to 
study. Besides this, he exerted himself in teaching sacred 
music, an art in which he greatly excelled. He soon fell 
before the power of consumption. He died February, 1814. 
He was modest in his manners, devoted to the pursuit of 



90 


knowledge, bent upon the purpose of being useful, and 
exemplary in all his deportment. His piety was eminent, 
and enabled him to follow the directions of duty with a 
peaceful submission to the allotments of Providence. 


SAMUEL WELLS. 

His parents were Samuel and Electa (Bascom) Wells. 
His father was the youngest of four children, was a farmer, 
and, though not of a strong constitution, was largely engaged 
in his calling, was Deacon of the Second Congregational 
Church in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and a Colonel in mili¬ 
tary service, when such an office was a token of much confi¬ 
dence and of equal honor. His mother was the daughter of 
Ezekiel and Anna (Brown) Bascom. It was a favorite 
maxim of hers, when conversing with her children, “ Seek 
to be good rather than great,” and one which she fully 
exhibited in her life. Of her thirteen children, one died 
while an infant, and all the rest, with a single exception, 
became professors of religion. 

The eldest child, Samuel, had his birth at Greenfield, 
December 21,1792. Being of feeble health from his earliest 
days, he was designed by his father for a liberal education. 
In accordance with this parental purpose, he left home on 
the day of the total eclipse, June 16, 1806, for New Salem. 
Here he studied at the Academy, and then performed the 
duties of clerk in a store, both of which occupied two years. 
At the close of this period, he concluded to prepare himself 
for mercantile pursuits ; but by the winter of 1809, yielded 
to the wish of his father and renewed his studies, under the 
direction of Bev. Avery Williams, afterwards settled in the 
ministry at Lexington, Massachusetts. On the 2d of the 
following October, he was matriculated as a member of Dart- 



91 


mouth College. He remarks, “ Here my health was such, 
that it was with difficulty I could keep up with my class, 
and in the spring of 1812, after a protracted fever, I was 
sent home to die; but again joined the class, late in the 
autumn, and graduated with them in 1813.” Though he 
was thus called to endure the severe discipline of ill-health, 
yet his deportment was such as to win the friendship of 
those who became acquainted with him. 

After graduating, Mr. Wells began to study law with 
Elijah Alvord, Esq., of Greenfield, and was admitted at this 
place to practice in the Court of Common Pleas, August, 
1816, and at Northampton, to practice in the Supreme 
Judicial Court, September, 1819. He opened an office at 
Greenfield, and continued there till August, 1819, when he 
moved to Northfield. Here he continued Tor six months, 
and then went back to his native town. In November, 
1822, he received a proposition from the Hon. Isaac C. 
Bates, to become a partner with him in the practice of law, 
which he accepted. This connection lasted till June, 1827. 
Thence Mr. Wells continued the duties of his profession 
alone. 

As the consequence of being responsible for a company, 
whose affairs became much embarrassed, Mr. Wells’s own 
property was taken, in 1830, and trials pressed upon him. 
His health failed, consumption seemed to be preying upon 
his vitals, and for more than two years he was unable to do 
any business. But that Providence, which seeth not as man 
seeth, turned back his captivity. He was restored so that 
he was able to resume his profession. This he followed till 
April 27, 1837, when he was appointed Clerk of the Judi¬ 
cial Courts for the county of Hampshire, Massachusetts, 
which office he has held to this date. In addition to this, he 
holds the offices of Justice of the Peace and Quorum, and 
also of Trials. 

As to the social relations of Mr. Wells, we have the 
subsequent facts. On March 9, 1820, he married Sarah 


92 


Hooker Leavitt, daughter of the Hon. Jonathan Leavitt, of 
Greenfield, eminent for her piety. She died in her fortieth 
year, January 29, 1837, of an inflammation of the brain. 
She left four children,—Sarah Leavitt, Jonathan Leavitt, 
Maria Louisa, and Samuel Henry Martyn. Of these, Jona¬ 
than married Delia C. ? the daughter of Mr. Cornelius 
Delano, of Northampton, and resides in the city of New 
York. Henry is a member of Dartmouth College. The 
daughters live with their father. Mr. Wells was again 
married, May 15, 1851, to Mrs. Maria L. Carleton, widow of 
Mr. Cyrus Carleton, late merchant of the city of New York. 
She has three sons,—George W., Cyrus, and Charles A. 
Carleton. 

It affords us much satisfaction to know, that while Mr. 
Wells has been careful for temporal concerns, he has been 
more so for those which are spiritual. He agrees with us, 
that in nothing are the most of our race so justly chargeable 
with erring from the dictates of reason, conscience and reve¬ 
lation, as in their everlasting interests. Like many others, 
he perceived that, from his earliest days of boyhood, the 
thoughts of death and judgment would frequently arise in 
his mind and produce a fear, lest, when summoned to meet 
them, he should be altogether unprepared. Then the prince 
of darkness would suggest to him, that there was time 
enough for him to conform with a deceitful world and still 
be sure of endless safety. Allured by such sophistry, he 
continually replied to the voice of inspiration, ‘ Go thy way 
for this time,’ until the decease of a beloved brother, not 
emerged from infancy. This providence said to him, ‘ If one 
so young is called to eternity, you may be commanded soon 
to follow him ; prepare to meet thy God.’ Then doubts and 
darkness overshadowed his soul. The destroyer of all good 
assumed another mode of action, in order to keep him in 
bondage, and induced him to think that the day of grace for 
him had passed away. Still the Holy Spirit continued with 
him, and so aided him to seek, that he found peace in 


93 


believing. Thus turned to wisdom’s ways, he could sin¬ 
cerely adopt the versified thoughts of an Apostle,— 

“ When I am weak, then am I strong ; 

Grace is my shield, and Christ my song.” 

Mr. Wells united with the Second Congregational Church 
of Greenfield, in July, 1817. On removing to Northamp¬ 
ton, his relation was transferred to the First Church there. 
He so continued, till the Edwards Church was formed in 
that town, when he became one of its original members. 
He remarks, as to such membership, “ With my own, the 
records now bear the names of my deceased and present wife, 
and of four out of our seven children.” We can heartily 
pray, that the remaining part of their children may be 
speedily brought into the fold of Christ, so that they may 
finish life and be partakers in the endless, perfect and glori¬ 
ous experience of heaven, as an unbroken and united family. 
Compare this portion with unions, graced by all the attrac¬ 
tions of earth and most sought by insatiable ambition, and it 
excels them as the brightness of seven days does the dim¬ 
mest glimmer of twilight. 


WILLIAM WHITE. 

William White was the son of James and Eunice 
(Kingsbury) White. His father died at Thetford, Vermont, 
1830, aged seventy-six, and his mother, 1819, aged sixty. 
He had his birth at Haverhill, Massachusetts, May 1, 1788. 
He was prepared for College by the Rev. Gardner Kellogg, of 
Bradford, Vermont. He taught school in the winter, during 
his collegiate course. For two years after graduating, he 
was the Principal of an Academy at Gorham, Maine. For 
the same period, 1815-17, he was tutor in his Alma Mater. 
In the year last named, he commenced the practice of law, 
13 



94 


at Bennington, Vermont, and remained there twelve months. 
He went to Philadelphia in 1821, and opened a Select Clas¬ 
sical and English School. This Institution he continued four 
years. In this time, as his class-mate Bond relates, he "pub¬ 
lished an elaborate Essay on the Pronunciation of the Latin 
and Greek languages. He frequently wrote communications 
for the newspapers, but always anonymously. He also com¬ 
menced a weekly publication, entitled e The Saturday Maga¬ 
zine, 5 of which he was editor and proprietor, and which was 
literary, political, and critical. This periodical was conducted 
with decided ability, but it did not acquire an extensive circu¬ 
lation. At the end of a few months, it was discontinued. 
In the summer of 1825, he went to Richmond, Virginia, 
where he became Principal of the High School, and where 
he died of dysentery, August 21, 1826, unmarried. Mr. 
White’s mind was remarkable for the clearness and acuteness 
of its perceptions, especially upon abstract, metaphysical sub¬ 
jects. His demeanor was unpretending, and his morals un¬ 
blemished.” The high promise which his appearance in 
College gave, was fully realized. He believed and rever¬ 
enced the doctrines of grace. He deeply felt that the greatest 
of human intellect and acquisitions should be laid in the dust, 
when compared with even the glimpses of Divinity, as made 
known on the sacred pages of Revelation. 


FREDERICK WOOD. 

Frederick Wood was the youngest of five brothers, and 
was born in Littleton, Massachusetts. After graduating, he 
studied medicine and prepared himself for its practice. He 
then traveled through several of our Western States. He 
contracted the impression, that the world cared nothing for 
him, and he might care nothing for them. Hence, for the 



95 


last twenty years he has made little provision for the morrow, 
any further than to supply his present necessities. During 
such a period, he has labored in various places. When last 
heard from, he was in the western part of his native State. 
A graduated class, in the development of their bias, habits, 
tastes, talents, and acquisitions, are like a little world in the 
exhibition of its various characters. Some meet, some fall 
below, and others rise above the line of anticipations individ¬ 
ually formed of them, while on their collegiate course. 
Duty demands of them all, that they should move in the 
spheres adapted to their capacity and preparation, as faithful 
stewards of divine bounty. Happy indeed are they whose 
conscious reflection constantly lays before their perception, 
the knowledge that however encumbered with the imperfec¬ 
tions of their fallen race, they desire, pray, purpose and 
strive to meet the approval of the Judge, who will render 
unto all according to their ways. 


CHARLES WOODMAN. 

Charles Woodman was the son of Rev. Joseph Wood¬ 
man, minister of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, and was born 
January 9, 1792. He studied law with Jeremiah H. Wood¬ 
man, of Rochester, in the same State, and then with Christo¬ 
pher Gore, of Boston, Massachusetts. He was married twice; 
first, to Mary W. Gage, daughter of Joseph and Mary Gage, 
of Dover, New Hampshire, June, 1818—she died in June, 
1819, aged thirty years ; second, to Dorothy Dix, daughter 
of the Hon. John and Rebecca Wheeler, of the same town, 
the 5th of November, 1821. His last wife was born Febru¬ 
ary 28, 1798, and died in March, 1849, leaving one son, bear¬ 
ing his own name. For several years he was Representative 
in the Legislature from Dover, and in 1822 he was Speaker of 
the House. At the time of his decease, October 31, 1822, 



96 


“ he was candidate for Congress, and would in all probability 
have been elected.” His knowledge of human nature, and 
the tact for using it to compass the objects which he consid¬ 
ered fit to be obtained, and his busy, stirring spirit, exhibited 
while a member of College, he successfully applied in his 
subsequent life. But while political eminence was inviting 
him to share more largely in its laurels, and the pulses of his 
heart throbbed more strongly in unison with its proffers, the 
hand of Providence pointed him to the dial of probation, and 
bid him note that the hour of his departure from all earthly 
attractions had come. Thus warned, he was brought to the 
position, wherein no relief short of the favor conferred by 
Immanuel, can shed the light of hope upon the soul, and 
enable it to look for acceptance into the society of the 
righteous made perfect. 


APPENDIX. 


While collecting- the preceding, the Committee received the following notices of their 
Class-mates, who did not graduate with them, and which they think it is well to print in 
this connection. 


JACOB ATKINSON. 

His parents were Samuel and Sally Atkinson. His father 
died in Amherst, New Hampshire, in 1796, aged about forty- 
six years; and his mother in Boscawen, of the same State, 
in March, 1845, aged eighty-four. He was born in the last- 
named town, November, 1793, and fitted for College by 
Rev. Samuel Wood. He remained with his class two years, 
and then entered Brown University, where he graduated. 
He soon went to Stark county, Ohio, where he purchased 
land, improved it, and, in two years, sold it “ at a handsome 
advance.” Thence he moved to Wheeling, Virginia, where 
he taught school for a like period. In the course of 1817, 
he engaged in prosperous business with an elder brother of 
his in the same place, and so continued nearly up to the time 
of his decease, March £9, 1837. He was not married. Cf He 
was a good writer on politics, as well as other subjects. He 
was gentlemanly and conciliating in his deportment.” The 
realities of life passed away with him, pointing to the wisdom 
of securing the purest and greatest temporal happiness, by 
the best preparation for immortal concerns. 


JOHN EATON FULLER. 

John Eaton Fuller was born at Francestown, New 
Hampshire, November 19, 1788. His parents were Daniel 





98 


and Abigail Fuller, who moved from Dedham, Massachu¬ 
setts. He was one of nine children, who are all dead but 
two. While applying his time and energies to make lauda¬ 
ble progress in his studies, he was prostrated by disease, and 
died at home, October 22, 1811. Mr. John Nichols, the 
missionary to India, was appointed by the Class to pronounce 
the eulogy customary on such occasions. This service was 
done very acceptably to the audience. 


NATHANIEL HENCHMAN. 

His parents were Dr. Nathaniel and Anna (Crosby) 
Henchman. His father was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, 
May, 1763, and died at Amherst, New Hampshire, May 27, 
1800. His mother was born at Billerica, Massachusetts, and 
died where her husband did, November 27, 1836, aged 77. 
He was born at Amherst, Nov. 19, 1786, and attended the 
Academy under Jesse Appleton, afterwards President of 
Bowdoin College. Having left his class, he studied medi¬ 
cine under Dr. Matthias Spalding, and practiced some in his 
native place. In the last war with England, he became 
Surgeon’s Mate in the army, and was stationed at Sackett’s 
harbor. Thence he went to Aquacknock, New Jersey, and 
followed his profession there a short time. From that place 
he went to Woodville, Mississippi, and, having resided nine 
months here, he was attacked with an inflammatory fever, 
and died, after a sickness of five days, September 5, 1819, 
aged 33 years. In the burying ground of Amherst, a cenotaph 
is erected in memory of him by his mother. Two closing 
lines on this monument are as follow: 

“ In distant clime, without stone or name, 

He rests, who here had friends and honest fame.” 



99 


JOSIAH HUBBARD. 

Josiah Hubbard was son of John Hubbard. He was 
born at New Ipswich, New Hampshire, July 24, 1793. 
When he entered College, his father was its Professor of 
Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, but died the next 
year. His brother John, was of the same class with him. 
Bereft of then* father’s care and counsel, they soon took up 
their connections. Josiah married Mehitabel Whitmore, of 
Lebanon, New Hampshire, September 23, 1814 ; has had 
seven children, and four of them are married. From Leb¬ 
anon he moved to Lowell in 1838, and was elected City 
Librarian in the latter place, 1844, which office he yet holds. 
He still exhibits the urbane and kind manners, which were 
common in his youth. Favored with the desirable disposi¬ 
tion to live usefully, he has opportunity for its continual 
gratification. 


JAMES MILTIMORE. 

He left College before his Class graduated. His parents 
were Rev. James and Dolly Miltimore. His birth was at 
Stratham, New Hampshire, March 30, 1789. He took 
charge of the classical department in Charlotte Hall Acad¬ 
emy, Saint Mary’s county, Maryland, in 1816, where he con¬ 
tinued till his decease. He married Ann R., daughter of 
Robert Hilgour, resident where the Academy was located. 
They had three children, James, William, and Mary Ann. 
Mr. Miltimore was a member of the Episcopal church. His 
wife died July 27, 1851, and he, May 7, 1852. He was a 
classical scholar, and eminent for his oratory. 



100 


SAMUEL PHILBRICK. 

His parents were Jonathan and Alice (Butler) Philbrick. 
His father died June 10, 1841, at Washington, New Hamp¬ 
shire, aged seventy-three, and his mother at Angelica, New 
York, February, 1853, aged eighty-two. He was born at 
Deerfield, New Hampshire, about 1792, whence his parents 
moved to Washington, 1803. He studied with Rev. Mr. 
Whiting, of Antrim, and Rev. John Lord of Washington. 
He married a daughter of Elder Bascomb. He has been a 
merchant more than twenty-five years in Savannah, Georgia. 




